By early summer 1919, with World War I over, many soldiers were on their way home. But for hundreds hospitalized at Camp Lewis, now JBLM, home was still a long way off. To help cheer them up, the Tacoma Rose Society and the YMCA hosted a rose show.
Annual Tacoma Rose Show Was Red Cross Fundraiser
Founded in 1911, the Tacoma Rose Society had to cancel its annual rose show in 1918 because of the war. Their 1919 comeback show, they decided, would be a Red Cross fundraiser. The group would collect admissions and sell donated roses.
But couldn’t more be done to help soldiers? Captain Robert Fisher, leader of Camp Lewis’ YMCA “hospital hut,” thought so. He approached the Tacoma Rose Society and local women’s organizations with an idea: if convalescent soldiers couldn’t come to the rose show in Tacoma, why not bring it to them afterwards?
The Tacoma Rose Society and women’s groups agreed. The event would be the first rose show ever held at Camp Lewis.
Tacoma Rose Show Held in Tacoma Armory
The show was held on Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21, in the Tacoma Armory. The Armory was transformed into a flower wonderland. At the center of the main room was a ten-foot-tall potted tree fern surrounded by a pyramid of flowers and ferns. Maidenhair ferns were draped over exhibit tables…