Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-29
the Folks
Behind the Fighters
(By Marion Bonsall pavis.)'

(By Marion Bonsall pavis.)
Wherever our soldiers or sailors are
In training they are seeing or are
shortly to see a;statement like this n
which is posted at Camp Upton:
Notice to Members of the Nation
al Army: The American Red Cross is
prepared to be of service to the FAM
lilies of enlisted men. Soldiers are in
vited to communicate with the Red
Cross field director at Red Cross
headquarters upon n problem which
may confront their families at home.
equipped to aid in any emergency
that may arise in the home of SOL
diers." |
Very quietly. now to this soldier,
now to that sailor. now to this can
Torment, nov to that camp. now to
this family, nov to that community,
the realization Of what this notice
means has come as a great revelation
as a new strength; as a new hold
on life. y:
1t means, briefly, that the home
service and the camp service of the
Red Cross are charged with the duty
of safeguarding the homes Of the men
called to the colors-safeguarding
them as literally. as humanity as this:
Several weeks after a certain SOL
dier had enlisted it happened that
his wife and children were threatened
with election from their home for
nonpayment of the rent. A neighbor
suggested that the home service Of
the Red Cross might nave influence
with the landlord. But the Red Cross
workers did more than bridge the
financial crisis. they brought friend
ship and a new sense Of life to that
home.
In another soldiers home the little
brother-11 years old-who had
walked on crutches all his life. fell
and broke them. The family did not
have enough money to buy new ones,
and went to the home service section
Of the Red Cross. The workers there
took the child to an orthopedic sur
geon. He said he could help the boy
by an operation. The child was eager
at the prospect of being like other
c~hildren-and he is that now run
ming and jumping. And the big broth
err in camp thinks of that every time
he sees the sign of the Red Cross.
Private B at Camp - seemed
to his officers willfully stupid. The
thrilling things of the new life were
only terrible to him. Worry about his
family kept taking on e fears. If
her allotment did not come promptly.
what would his wife do? Who would
take care of her in her approaching
confinement? Who would take care of
the children? Would the grocer refuse
credit? AS the others seemed to catch
the spirit of the camp. to respond to
the bugle and the drums and the
military ceremonies when battalions
swung cleanly into the traditional for.
nations to salute, the colors- he who
saw new souls born in some of them
felt himself .outcast rebellious, des.
, perate.
When the notice went up III the
camp he saw his Red Gross field di'
rector. It's assurance that the Rec
, Cross was ready to help meant, in hi!
, case. that the young wife, who hat
been 80 lonely and so frightened wher
her allotment was delayed, had exper
care in that happy maternity ward il
) New York-always bright with kind
: ness-which is the greatest profes
! sional pride of a group Of distinguish
; ed physicians who are proud to ofe
5 their skill to the home service sectio,
of the Red Cross; that the childre,
were tenderly cared for. meanwhile
and money difficulties settled. Btu
again it mean much more than this
' For the Red Cross home servic
2 friends did not let that family dror
: but continually brought new pleasure
and interest into their lives 30; tina
. they came to have the invigoratin
: sense of their part in the community
I New economies took On an interest
a kind Of dignity OF patriotic observ
ance: there was something new /
Everything: an unexpected flash q
meaning here and there in things tha
had just been words. They began (
realize new possibilities in living, ne,
possibilities In Themselves. And quit
! l. q = f-y Il kA>-A A.
blessed miracle Of response to h
own Uniform.
No two families are alike, Ind ever
home service story is different frol
every other story. The undertaking
safeguarding the homes of our so
diers and sailors Is SO vast as scArcel
to seenn credible. Yet IT 10 slready 1
organized that every soldiers an
sailors family may have access
home service. And camp servic
p which puts the offer OF these resour,
. 81 before every mar In camp, and /
- which he. car bring his private wo
ries to his Red Cross field sdirecto
az who forms his bridge with home ser
Ice. has been established already D
tlie majority Of u eannps and ca,
t0nments...and soon VIII be In eve
"A ene. ThtssEa nc e8siSEgixen to eve,
IMAM as be leaves for France. II 1fs
be In ~recreation huts,ssi hsadquarte,
lin the hospital. wards Hover there. :,
~ These resburces Which@ase offer,
= TO our @defeflders ri the RESOURCES
the American Rod Gross, With IL IL
mendoIss force generated by $4,000
800 people: the fc~0-opera4ion or. IRE
tasx rsry4sas 81 HesIy skiiIedgprofe
saonala4nen and women. Expsrte LEI
advtces expert medical adviee@.exbe
buGneAe aAYce-these fhiA6s I