The following excerpt is part of an on-going historical record of what happened in Richland Parish in years gone by.

This article was published in the Jan. 1, 1927 isssue of the Richland Beacon-News.

Legion’s First Community

Christmas Tree Was Big

Event of Holiday Season

T h e first annual community Christmas tree, under the auspices of the American Legion Post of Rayville, which took place at the hall on Thursday before Christmas, was one of the most elaborate, and the largest ever seen in this town, or section of the parish.

While a number of people understood the affair was to occur on Christmas Eve and missed being present on that account, still there was a splendid attendance and a wonderful program was given under direction of Mrs. C.J. Ellis, Jr.

Mrs. J.J. Ineichen had charge of the decorations, while Mr. G.B. Franklin, post commander, superintended the entire affair and directed the spending of the funds which the Legion had collected for the purpose, a sum between four and five hundred dollars.

The tree was a beauty to behold and was fairly loaded with presents for, the little folks, many of them being members of poor families who would have had little or no Christmas joy otherwise.

There were presents for grown-ups and in-betweens, as well as the children. At the foot of the tree were bushels and bushels of candies, apples, oranges and other things that could not be put on the tree for lack of space, and the good things to eat were liberally divided and all went to make up a most enjoyable Christmas.

Besides Mesdames Ellis and Ineichen, who directed departments of the tree festivities, there were a number of other ladies who rendered valuable aid and took part in making this, the greatest undertaking of the kind ever staged in Rayville, the big success that it was.

Much praise is due Mr. Franklin and his associates who took a leading part.

This goes to prove that when people who are determined to put a thing over big, they make a success of it.

Here’s hoping to see many more big community Christmas trees staged by the Legion, which deserves to grow and flourish as an organization of which our town and people feel justly proud.