The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-05-30
MIGHTY GOOD PLACE
FOR YOUNG MEN

Dear Sir or Madam
Many fathers and mothers object
| to the enlistment of their sons in the
U. S. Navy for the reason that they
have mistaken idea as to the kind
of men who are in the service or whit
are entering the service. Many par
ents believe that the influence to
which their sons would be subjected
IN the Navy and the character of
the young men with whom their sons
would associate in the Navy are not
good. Such an idea as this is entirely
wrong, and conversation with any
of the men of the Navy, at any OF
the recruiting offices, or with any
man who has served in the Navy and
received an HONORABLE discharge
from the Navy would convince any
parent as to the excellent character
of the men in the Navy and also as
to the splendid training which their
sons would receive in the Navy.
A good many parents think also
that the officers and men of the re-
cruiting service are secretly trying to
get young men away from their
homes and their parents without the
knowledge or consent of the parents.
Therefore, when advertising matter
concerning the Navy is sent to their
sons the parents often destroy it or
return the Letter unopened. The laws
of the country and the regulations
l-of the recruiting service forbid the
enlistment of any boy under eighteen
years of age without the consent of
his parents or guardian, and it is not
the wish of the Navy Department to
enlist any yound man without the full
knowledge and consent of his parents.
The Navy offers many advantages
! to a young man in the way of train
ing, education, pay ond advancement,
and the influences by which a young
man in the Navy is surrounded
the character of the men with whom.
he associates are better by far than
the average outside. In nearly every
I case where it is possible to have these
advantages fully explained to par
ent by one of the men of the recruit
ing party, the opinion and attitude of
I the parents are changed and consent
] is given to the enlistment of their
son. The officers and men at the re-
cruiting stations are always pleased
i to give a parent full information
about the Navy either directly in per-
son or by letter. Therefore, if letters
are sent to your son from recruiting
office, please do not think that any
one wishes to induce your son to
leave home and join the Navy with.
out your knowledge or consent. A
letter is sent to young man because
his name and address has been sent
to the Publicity Bureau with re-
quest that information concerning the
Navy be sent to him.
If yon do not wish to have the idea
of entering the Navy put into your
sons head, all you have to do is write
and request that no letters be sent to
him, but before doing this, it is re-
quested that you learn just what the
Navy has to offer him and just how
much he can help himself and help
you by going into the Navy.
1t is not believed that any parent
can justly say that his son, after
serving in the Navy, was not better
to make a living and perform the
duties of a good citizen than before
joining the Navy. If you hear any
Iunfavorable criticism of the United
Estates Navy from any man who has
served in the Navy, you will find. on
investigation, that this man did not
get an HONORABLE discharge from
the Navy, but is, in nine out OF ten
cases, a skick-out." No rogue e'er