The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-05
RED CROSS BULLETIN

at the Boys Industrial school, where we
 assumed charge of the nursing and hos
 pital work under the ectssupervision of Mrs Charles Westerlund, with the re suit that out Of approximately 100 cases
 there were only three fatalities. We were also able to render material aid to the Children's hospital, which we found in need of various supplies, for the reason that the number of cases committed to their charge was greatly increased by reason of the epidemic. We are still cooperating wherever possible with the city and county health authori- ties, as the epidemic is still in force al several places in the county.
 I wish to render due acknowledgment for cooperation by the chairman and the members of the executive committee, as well as the splendid ability shown by
 Miss Kate Rodgers and the workers un- der Ter charge
 I feel in closing I should say word for home service. Some of our friends in the other departments of the Red Cross and the general public are not informed as to the work of home service | When a soldier or sailor is sent to ] the camp, the battle front or the war 1 ship the government recognizes two things One that it is necessary to raise | the morale of the army and navy to the l highest point and, second, that no in | justice should be done the dependents at home. Our soldiers and sailors were ] engaged in the noblest crusade committed | to mankind during the worlds history l IT was necessary to inspire them with l feeling of patriotism, high courage l and an indomitable faith in their mission l and resolve to return as conquerors | This necessitated the abandonment ol l home ties. the severing of business re | lations. and of home duties and respon | abilities Home service was therefore charged with the duty of administering
 to the sick. providing sustenance for ths family, and schooling for the dependen 1 chlldren to act as comforter in case O | bereavement, and as far as possible tt ! take the place of the men in the service l Every case has it's own peculiarities and the needs in each case were diff 1 ferent from every other case. Therefore lit required close study and the greates 1 care in order that the man at the iron | should not be worried about his hom affairs and the condition of his depend | ents.
 I During this period it was necessar. | for ls to plan for the future. To thi end we have been and are co-operatinl with the local agencies, looking to tn Ibetterement of the social conditions a home.
 The homecoming of the men win prob ably be the greatest event in the famil, history. The man must find his wifi and children in better condition thai when he left them. the wife and childrel must find the father man made ney in the crucible of war, prepared to talk sl up civil life again where he left off, an' the new relationship must be resumed without friction.
 We have performed the task of mak
 ing a soldier from the civilian. A soldte l whose ideals of life have been molde
 in new vessel; whose faith in Go
 I and human kind has been transformed
 I whose resolve to dare and do enabled hin
 to fire with unerring aim at Chatea
 l Thierrv. who has offered his all on tn
 laltar of his country.
 I Now we must reverse the order an
 make a civilian from the soldier. Tn
 steps that led to glory must be retraced
 Then, too, there will be those who hay
 lteen ,maimed, whose health has been shat
 tered. or whose eyes have been dark
 cned. What we are able to do will b
 in the way of education and vocationa training. Our government is using tn
 best brains at it's command in perfectin,
 lthese plans, and the Red Cross will b
 called upon as the agency of the govern I ment in their execution. and the hom I service will undoubtedly be called eupol ] to exercise a very large function. Re spectfully submitted
 J. K. BROCKMAN. ! C,ha;rn,an Home Service Section A. R. C