STE. GENEVIEVE – This year’s observance of Memorial Day at the Ste. Genevieve VFW Post had a very special appearance. The World War I cannon nicknamed “Old Whistler” returned to its place next to the post hall after several months of restoration.
The cannon returned to the post hall on Memorial Drive Saturday accompanied by a fire truck and may others. Members were very pleased to see it return in time for Monday’s events marking Memorial Day.
St. Agnes Seventh Grader Lyla Shortt stands on the historic cannon, which she nicknamed “Old Whistler” winning a contest among local school children.
The gun which has stood on the ground of the VFW hall for many years was built in 1914 in England. It is a five inch field gun which fires a five inch projectile weighing 60 pounds nearly seven miles in less than six seconds. The gun requires a crew of 10 artillery men and can fire two rounds a minute.
It is one of 1,756 such guns manufactured.
It was designed to be towed into battle by a team of horses at first and later an artillery tractor.