100 years ago today - Mar 30, 1917

Young John Talmage, six-year-old son of Apostle James Talmage goes downtown to buy a gift for a family member. While his governess is looking into a store window, he runs into a nearby National Guard office, where he declares himself ready for duty. The amused recruiters put him through the drill of attention and saluting. However, the boy is devastated when he is told he is too young, and John decides not to tell anyone of the humiliating experience. That afternoon the family receives a call from Lieutenant Albert Meyers who relates the incident and asked permission to report the story in the next day's newspaper. It runs in the Mar, 31 edition of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE.