[Gould can 5314 — Extra.5, silent, 1918]

This compelling 1918 footage captures a unique victory parade in San Francisco, celebrating the end of World War I amidst the influenza pandemic, with participants and onlookers alike wearing medical face masks. The parade showcases a blend of patriotic pride and public health vigilance, as civilians, soldiers, and Red Cross workers march down the streets in masks, bearing signs promoting the United War Work campaign and urging continued efforts, like collecting fruit pits for the Red Cross. Banners and picket signs express fervent patriotism, with messages like “Get Ready for the Final Liberty Loan” and “Keep on Buying War Saving Stamps,” while anti-Kaiser signs caricature the Kaiser as “the beast of Berlin” and a “Hun.” Enthusiastic young men wave American flags and mock a dummy of Kaiser Wilhelm labeled “Off For Holland,” symbolizing a triumphant end to the war. The footage concludes with a shot of the USS *Jason* as seagulls fly around its hull, capturing a society in celebration, relieved by victory but marked by the presence of an unprecedented health crisis.

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