Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-12-12
Will WE HELP
THE RED CROSS?
Organization Right Now Keeping
Millions of Destitute Men,
Women and Children
Alive in Europe.
All Americans at Home Must
Back Up This Great Work
EffectuaIIy-Join the Red
Cross Today.

The American Red Cross has on its
hands one of the worlds greatest and
/ grimmest jobs. In order TO do the
work, the organization must have at
once fifteen million members. 1t now
has five million on the rolls and is
campaigning TO secure the ten million
additional members by Christmas eve.
Every man, woman and child in this
community ought to belong to the Red
Cross. Being member doesn't mean
that one is expected to go to Europe,
carry wounded soldiers off the battle
| fields and nurse them in the hospitals.
Ii doesn't mean that one need go TO
the devastated areas of France, or Bel
GUM, or Poland, or Serbia, and give
personal care to the starving, freezing
, naked, homeless women and children
there. -
But it does mean that those of us
who stay comfortably at home will do
as much as we can in every way to
back up the organization already at
work lover there"
1t does mean that the men among
us will contribute our bit to help our
brothers fighting the cause of liberty
In Europe.
1t does mean that the mothers
among us will knit and sew for the
wretched mothers of Europe and their
pitiful babies.
1t does mean that our young women
will show practical sympathy for the
young women along the western
front" and in Serbia who have suffered
nnspeakable cruelties at the hands of
bestial enemy soldiers.
1t does mean that our children be
made to understand the curse upon
the children of Europe, and be taught
10 make some sort of sacrifice for the
cause of humanity. II
1t does mean that each of us will do
what he. can individually to supply
plenty of comforts for our soldiers
fighting the enemy and necessities for
the wounded in hospitals. - 8
Stricken Europe is crying to heaven
for relief, and Providence is answering
that prayer through the instrumental
| ity of the American Red Cross. gfis
Now il it had unlimited funds but
only a comparatively few members the
Red Cross would be unable to do the
work before it. The first great need
is for millions of MEMBERSHIP sup
port of the folks back home"
Do you know why our lads in the
army and navy are acqultting them
selves SO creditably-why they are
amazing the allies by their bravery, in
telligence and enthusiasm? 1t is be-
cause those lads are thinking always 1
of their mothers and dads and sisters
and sweethearts and kid brothers.
The same thing goes for the HE'D 4
Cross. When all the dads and moth
ers and sisters and sweethearts and
kid brothers in America show their in
terest and sympathy for Red Cross
work, as members of the Red Cross
and as working members, why the Red
Cross will cover itself with glory for
ever more.
A years membership in the Red
Cross costs just one dollar. If one
wishes to read the Red Cross Maya
zine IOr year ne pays anOtner dol
lar. Join now. You will never spend
a dollar IL better cause.
The Red Cross button is badge of
honor. Wear one!
Membership can be secured at any
bank in Winneshiek county, as well
as from any officer of the Winneshiek
County Chapter and its branches, or
step into the Bear clothing store and
procure your membership from
Treasurer Ben Bear.