As an added attraction at the 1931 Home Products Show, a public wedding was held on May 22, 1931. Grace McCollum and Noel Carreau were the first couple to volunteer to wed in front of a large attentive audience at the State Armory. The Independent Merchants Association, sponsors of the exhibition, paid for the wedding expenses including the marriage license, wedding clothing, flowers, and gifts. C.F. Mason, president of the association, even gave the bride away. The new Mrs. Carreau was dressed in an early summer gown of white chiffon and white hat and was attended by Mrs. Flora Niccoli. Cecilia Coleman was the flower girl with Albert Morris as best man. The marriage was solemnized by Justice Blanche Funk Miller. G32.1-014 (TDL 5-23-31, p. 12-article)

Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings); McCollum, Grace; Carreau, Noel; Niccoli, Flora; Coleman, Cecilia; Morris, Albert; Wedding attendants--Tacoma; Wedding clothing & dress--1930-1940; State Armory (Tacoma);

Elderly group at Armory. A group of women surround one of Tacoma's early pioneer men at a banquet held at the Armory in September of 1937. Portraits of United States Presidents hang on the wall; a single lightbulb dangles on a knob wire above the group. (T. Times).

Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pioneers--Tacoma--1930-1940; State Armory (Tacoma);

The Headquarters Troop, 24th Cavalry Division, Washington National Guard sponsors the first horse show of the season on November 29, 1937 at the Armory. Two soldiers watch a white horse perform a trick with a very young rider on the horse's back. Tacoma's famous Cavalry unit was known locally as "Troop B." It was the oldest military organization in the state. (T. Times, 11/30/1937, p. 5).

Horse shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Show horses; Washington National Guard, 24th Cavalry Division (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma); Trick riding;

On November 13, 1940, David Larson (left) and George Tucker, two saxophone players from the 146th Field Artillery Band, tried to blow away the unidentified listeners attending the Enlisted Men's Dance at the Tacoma Armory. All three saxophone players in the band, including Dean Curtiss who was not pictured, were former members of leading dance bands. The 146th FA Band was supplying the music for the dance, the second in a series of dances. All men in uniform from McChord Field, Fort Lewis and Camp Murray were invited for the evening's entertainment; all area young women were invited to act as dance partners. TPL-1755 (T. Times 11/14/1940, pg. 13)

Dance parties; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma); Saxophones; Tucker, George; Larson, David;

Miss Eilene Kezele lights the cigaret of Tommie Attleson, 146th FA National Guard, at the enlisted men's dance on November 13, 1940. The call had gone out for 25,000 young Tacoma girls to serve as dance partners. All enlisted men from McChord, Fort Lewis and Camp Murray were invited to attend. This was the second in a series of dances held at the Armory. (T. Times 11/14/1940, pg. 1 +, 11/8/1940, pg. 17)

Dance parties; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; State Armory (Tacoma); Kezele, Eilene; Attleson, Tommie;

Armory-Lincoln graduation. Lincoln High School had 706 students graduating in 1946, 226 were Veterans from World War II. The Veterans graduating will wear their military uniforms to the graduation ceremony. Ex-Mayor Harry P. Cain will deliver the graduation address. View of Lincoln High School's graduating Veterans at State Armory (T. Times, 6/6/46, p. 3).

Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military uniforms; Veterans; State Armory (Tacoma);

Renamed Veterans Day in 1953, November 11 was first proclaimed as Armistice Day in 1919 to commemorate the end of World War I. That year, on November 13, John Philip Sousa's band played in the Washington National Guard Armory in Tacoma and President Woodrow Wilson spoke there two months earlier. In 1947, a Military Ball was held on Armistice Day at the Armory, where more than 1,500 people were expected to attend. The presentation of colors to the local reserve units of the Army and Army Air Corps highlighted the evening. Army and Navy dignitaries and prominent civilian guests attended the event. View of ceremonies under way at the Armory (T. Times, 11/12/47, p. 7).

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Washington National Guard (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

Reserve Officers from Fort Lewis, McCord Field and the Navy were feted with a unification ball at the State Armory on July 17, 1948. The officers will be going to serve in maneuvers in the Australian waters. Prior to the ball, E. C. Anderson will lead the Second Infantry Division Band concert. View of officers and their spouses that attended the Reserve Officers' Ball at the State Armory (T. Times, 7/16/48, p. 6).

Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ball dresses; Military officers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military spouses--Tacoma; Military service--Tacoma; Military uniforms; Events--Tacoma; State Armory (Tacoma);