Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1919-04-17

~ 10 and half million strong
organization that will take
its place in American affairs as the ul-
innate successor to the Grand Army of
the Republic, and the United Confeder-
ate Veterans.
Comrades in Service" in brief, will
be the name of the soldiers organiza-
ton that is being formed here in
France by the American boys Of the
expeditionary forces, the democratic
army that put pep into the great war,
the American lads that turned the tide
at Chateau .Thierry and the Forest of
the Argonne, to say nothing of the
st. Mihiel salient, and thereby gave the
Huns their knockout blow.
Throughout the length and breadth
of France the first chapters of the
new society have been organized by
members Of the American expedition
airy force, with assistance of the chap
lain's bureau of general headquarters.
Four welfare organizations have aided
the work, the Young Mems Christian
association, the Jewish Welfare board,
the Knights Of Columbus and the Sal
walton ARMY. In principle, Comrades
in Service is strictly nonpolitcal and
nonsectarian., Its program now taking
shape is altruistic. The leaders, as
well as the men enrolled, are taking
the attitude that service to the Amer
ont bt1f, nj Nv x-in
end with disqualification, but that each
and every man who wore the uniform
during the war days will find in Amer
lea, or wherever he happens to be To-
Gated, plenty of opportunity to serve
his fellow man in the days of peace.
AS name Comrades in Service"
received its first official recognition
when President Wilson. here in Paris
for the peace conference, attended the
first meeting of the organization held
In the Palace de Glace early in Janu-
airy. The palace Is big amusement
pavilion operated for the special bene-
fit of American soldiers on leave, or
stationed In Paris. Thousands of
Americans in uniform visit the place
every night. Entertainments are held
with programs resembling the old
fashioned home talent productions,
featuring American performers, either
professional or amateur. Audiences Of
5000 turn out for the boxing exhibi-
Il ms.
1t was DR.. o. D. Foster of the Y. M.
c. A. who first suggested the name of
the order. He got the idea one day in
America while riding through Gary,
Ind. on II train. On one of the side
tracks squad Of soldiers was unload
ing ammunition from a box car into
an army truck.
In the squad was negro driver,
several white men Of strictly American
ancestry and couple of foreigners.
Here are comrades in the service Of
America" Doctor Foster thought. The
best part of the phrase stuck in his
mind because 1t fitted perfectly the
plans he had been considering for
forming an after-the-war soldiers Or
ganizatiOn.
Every Company to Organize.
BY the time the last regiments leave
France, 1t Is believed that every COM
pany will have the skeleton Of an or
gsnizatlon affiliated with the society.
Much organization work has already
been accomplished by the soldiers
themselves and by the welfare work
ers who are earnestly pushing the
idea.
Overcoming sectional prejudices is
one OF the main aims of Comrades in
Service. Taking up the patriotic work
If the Grand Army Of the Republic in
the northern states. and the United
Confederate Veterans In the South. Is
another plank in the platform.
In America we can expect to add
,ne and possibly two national days of
celebration to our calendar of fete
lays; November IL, which will prob
ably be known as Arpistice Day, and
April 8. the anniversary of our dec
aration of war against Germany. On
these days, as well as on July 4, Com
-ades in Service will be men who will
AXE prominent part in the general
,bservances Of the date. They are
he men who made good in the bush
less Of crushing Prussian militarism;
hey are the men who suffered and who
won glory at the task. 1t is on the
slate for Comrades in Service to make
Armistice Day and July Fourth, at
least. two red letter days in their
yearly program.
Plans are well under way for the
establishment OF a national American