The Wrangell sentinel., 1919-01-30
ADDITIONAL .HONORS
  FOR ELTON ENGSTROM
His Speech the Only One of the Thousands Delivered That Was Published in the Red
 Cross Bulletin

1 Elton EngStrom, a seventh grade pupil in the Wrangell pub- lie school, was one of the contest ants in the Junior Four Minute contest held in Wrangell on De- cember 20, under the auspices of the Council of National Defense. The judges, Messrs. P. c. Me Cormack, w. H. Warren and Mrs. M. o. Johnson decided that Elton Engstrom should be de- clared the winner of the contest. This meant that young Engstrom would have the honor of having his name enrolled with the names of the winners of similar contests held all over the country. at Washington, D. c. The Wrangell winners name, and copy of his speech, as required by the regu lations, was sent to the contest department of the Red Cross.
 This week Miss Crosno, plesi- dent of the local Junior Red Cross, received from Seattle a letter from the officers in charge of con- tests for the northwest division, stating that of the thousands of speeches delivered by Junior Red Cross members the one delivered by Elton Engstrom of Wrangell was considered the best. In order to show further appreciation of the merit of Elton's speech it was published in full in the last num- Der of the Red Cross Bulletin.
 Wrangell may justly feel proud of this 13-year-old boy whose speech stirred local audience, and also received unusual recog- milton away from home. His speech follows:
 MEANING OF OUR RED CROSS .~'
 The Red in our cross stands for sacrifice, for giving life as the warm crimson blood gives life to the body. The cross has the same length on all four sides of its arms to signify that it gives life equally to all, high or low, East or West. It stands alone always, no words. no markings on 1t, 10 show that the Red Cross workers have only one thought-to serve. They ask no questions, they care not whether the wounded be ours or of another people; their duty is to give and to give quickly. Giving to the Red Cross is by no means sacrifice. Tt is a patriotic privilege. The Red Cross stands on white ground because real sacrifice can come only of pure hearts; service must come, not from hate, but from love, from the noblest thoughts and wishes of the heart, or it will fade. That is why children love this flag, and some day the children of all lands under the Red Cross will teach the grown people the way of under standing and of friendship, the beautiful meaning of the Red Cross which is echoed in their lives. In giving prompt and efficient relief, the Red Cross has won the eternal gratitude of millions of people. The armies of France from conl- manders down testify to the great good it has accomplished. Our people may we'll be proud of the record of the Red Cross; the won derful story can hardly be told in words. It could best be told by the widows and orphans ot our gal lant Allies, and by the mutilated soldiers to whom it has ministered.
 Into France, England, and Italy; into Russia, Belgium, and Greece; into Serbia, Palestine, and Siberia, the flag of the American Red Cross has gone, carrying with it the ideals of our American people. The Red Cross will continue on this greatest humanitarian crusade the world has ever seen, and make our universe a more fit place in which to live. It can rejoicingly be said that the American Red Cross has truly earned its name, The Greatest Mother in the World"
 ELTON ENGsTRoM,,