Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-21
RED CROSS WORKER
VER|F|ES STORY Of
B. REEDER'S DEATH
PARENTS OF DECEASED OTTAWA
BOY GET LETTER TELLING OF
BRAVE FIGHT PUT UP BY SOL
DIER-GivEN MILITARY FUNER-
Al.

MIR. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Recder,
1908 Main street, whose son Benjamin
+. Reeder Jr., died in military hos
pital in France on October 3, have re-
ceived OF the greatest consultations
that could come to them after the
loss OF their boy. II is a letter fran
Pearle &c. Nicholson. Red Cross
worker in the hospital where their son
breathed his last, after struggle for
democracy and world peace, and later
for his own life.
II tells them just when their son
entered the hospital, his condition at.
ter entering the hospital. and when
he died 1t also gives a graphic de.
scription of the beautiful military fu
neral Of the young Ottawan who was
buried in little American cemetery
on hillside in little French village.
The letter was sent thru the Red
Cross Home Communication service
and is only another OF the hundreds
Of little things this organization does
to soften the blow Of the bereavet
relatives
Rumors which caused the story tc
be spread around Ottawa that Sergt
Reeder still lived which were cred
tied with having started from letters
sent from France by boys who had
seen him in the hospital alive, caused
the Red CROSSE to trace down the time
and place of his death.
Miss Nicholsons letter reads Nm
full:
My dear Mrs. Reeder:
You have received the official no
tice of the death of your son and as
representative OF the American Red
Cross Home Communication Service
in this hospital | should like to tel
you something Of his last days in the
hope OF giving you some little com
fort. When he came here on Septem
Der "a, he was very sick with innu
enza which soon became broncho
pneumonia Of very severe type HI
was in a very good American Rec
Cross hospital and was given the hes
OF medical attention and careful nurs
ing. Seemingly little could be don,
IN 10 90, III
When | saw him he was quite con
scious and did not seem to be sui
fering, except for the difficulty o
breathing. He Slept the greater par
OF the time ann toward the end wa
delirlous and unconscious of his SUI
roundings. The end came quietly a
half past eight o'clock on the evenin
OF October 9th
The next afternoon at four o'clocl
we carried him to our American CEN
etery. The coffin was covered witt
the American flag and decorated wit
flowers from the American Red Cros
and lovely bouquet from the littl
French children of the village. Tn
burial service was conducted b
Chaplain Pres. A large number wer
present, members Of the base hospita
units, Of the American Red Cross
American soldiers and French peopl
OF the village We all stood at n,
tention in honor Of your sons men
DRY while the firing squad fired tire
volleys over the grave and the bugl
sounded the last call for TAPS" Tn
American cemetery lies on hillsid
In peaceful little French village an
at the evening hour the military ser,
ice Is most beautiful and impressive
1t seems well worth dying to hay
given ones life so Willingly an
bravely and in so great cause an
TOO to have as companions only thos
who have thought nothing of thei
lives except to give them in servjc
for their country.
we Americans over here are SEM
ing you our deepest sympathy and r.
greet in your loss and ours.
Very sincerely yours,
PEARLE c. NICHOLSON.