Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1918 — FORMER TAILOR GETS HIS LONG WAITED FOR CHANCE [ARTICLE]

FORMER TAILOR GETS HIS LONG WAITED FOR CHANCE

The Lafayette Courier in commenting on a dinner held in that city for a number of the drafted boys who are to leave on the twenty-third says: “The Stockton house was the scene of an enjoyable dinner party Monday, given in honor of boys who live in the house of who have mothers residing there, who are either in the service of Uncle Sam now or will leave February 28. “A canopy was formed over the dining room table, one side of which was made of streamers of American colors, red, white and blue, and the other side of Italian colors, red, green and white. The Italian colors were used as one of the men, Charles Serritella, is of Italian parentage. Flags of the allies and a boquet of red and white carnations adorned the table. Mr. Serritella is the son of Antonio Serritella, of Riciglianco, Italy, who was a naturalized American citizen before the birth of Charles Serritella. The latter was in the tailoring business in Rensselaer, but sold it at the time the United States entered the war in order to fight for his country. He tried to enlist in the navy, but was rejected on account of weakness of the eyes. He has since been accepted for the army and will leave February 23 with the drafted men. His America, always comes first in his mind.”