Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1918-05-23
RED CROSS CHAPTER
HAS A BIRTHDAY
Given Nation Wide Publicity on the
Event of Her First Birthday
Anniversary i'm Letter Sent
ErOm HEADQUARTERS

The Audubon County Chapter of
the Red Cross has gone into the lime
light as will be seen by the follow
ing letter which has been sent out
from the national headquarters.
1t was year ago this month that
the Chapter came into being. w. G.
Wilson, ID. l.. Freeman and Geo.
Viewer were in Des Moihes in April
to see if company of soldiers could
be sent from this county. After a
talk with the Adjutant General it
was learned that a company could
not be formed. These gentlemen,
however were informed that there
were other patriotic duties that
could be performed and they were
persuaded to go to Red Cross head
quarters to get particulars. When
these gentlemen returned to Audu-
bon they tarted a movement for the
organization of a Chapter with the
result that Audubon county can
boast of being among the first to
complete the organization.
The letter. which is of special mn
terest to everyone. follows:
The Chapter records-the treasur-
ed testimonials so eloquent of the
spirit of service which awakened in
our land in April. 1917-tell us that
the Audubon county chapter was or
ganized in May one year ago. The
patriotic people of Audubon county
heard the cry for help and banded
together as followers of the cross"
they went to the rescue-one month
before General Pershing and his
boys sailed away to a blackened and
saddened land to battlefield for us.
The great work that is being &C
complished by the Audubon county
chapter is doing much to legalize
our right to be known as truly
great people; as worth fighting for
as the boys in blue and khaki think
we are; as big as the young private
said we were as he stood on the
platform of a train, going back to
camp after a short furlough. 1t was
about six O'Clock in the evening and
quite dark. Downtown Chicago
its thousands of office windows all
lighted-was a fistful of glowing
jewels piled high and shining against
the black background of the night
sky. The young soldier looked and
swore a reverent oath.
"They can't beat that" he said
simply and without explanation.
Not that and all that's back of it.
Isn't it big. That's what we're
fighting for. That down there and
everything behind it. New York,
Duluth, New Orleans, San Francisco,
the Rockies. the prairies-phew!
all the people in all those places you
know, when l get over-across, no
mo xtrha IND Of iar "
get into, some time, badly hit or
struck, alone in the dark, when
things are coming pretty thick, if
can just hold the feel of all that
is back OF me. l think ! will manage
TO hold UP fine"
And he will. Just west a piece
from the Chicago that this boy look
ed out on lies your Audubon county
and your audubon county chapter
of the Red Cross; your chapter,
which has gathered together ASH
people, old and young. the weak and
strong, all with one heart purpose
to be worth fighting for" to keep
the feeling of Audubon county. of
home. back of the boy when he
finds himself in a jam.
And when the boys of Audubon
county come marching home! In
the Joy of the home coming, deep
in the heart warming cheering, will
sound a note of great community
pride-while the boys were lover
there" 5000 miles from home, you
never one forgot them.
We congratulate you for your fine
spirit and hope for your chapter a
new year of successful Red Cross
work.
Sincerely yours
Lewis n. Virgins,
Assistant Manager Central Div