La libera parola. [volume] (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1918-1969, 1919-06-28
RingrGGiGn1enti

Dal tenente colonnello DR.. Clarence
p, Franklin, al quale, unitamente al
tenente j. Ellwood Rotan, la colonia
iJaliana di Philadelphia la sera del 5
corrente mese dava un banchetto al
Walton Hotel ed offriya in dono un
orologio d'oro, in riconoscenza delPo-
pera militare spesa mel fronte italia
no e per Pattiva propaganda dele CO.
Sc nOstre che va facendo qui dal suo
ritorno dallItalia, abbiamo ricevuto la
lettera di ringraziamento, che qui ap-
pressO riproduciamo, mel suo testo in
glese, perche, come egi ci prega, sia
pubblicata su La Liberia Parola, "the
most representative newspaper Of the
italian citizens of Philadelphia"
MOI volentieri 10 accontentiamo,
tanto piu che il tenente colonnello
Franklin, checche possa andare propa-
lando un professionalism linguacciuto
che fu al servizio di quel Reggi-
mento, 81 reso benemerito non So
10 degIi Italiani di questa citta ma
di tutti quelli RESIDENT in America.
Ecco la lettera:
An Appreciation.
peace hath its victories as well as
War, and during these anxious days,
when the world stands waiting un-
til the final adjustments following
the overwhelming triumph accorded
US are made, it is one of the greatest
evidences Of the progressive spirit Of
a people that they can accept with
out loss of mental poise the gift Of
victory and turn at once to the deve-
lopmeut OF the virtues of peace. This
was the underlying note Of the dinner
recently given to two Philadelphians
who by the fortunes Of war served on
the Italian Front during the last year.
"The very best of all those peoples
of Europe who have come to America
to make it their adopted country, are
the Italians, and no better, steadier,
more law-abiding citizens are anon
gst us than those who came from the
Motherland of all that makes civiliz-
azion worth while and that those
Italian who are in Philadelphia should
choose such a form Of expression Of
their appreciation of Americas help
TO Italy, as the ceremonial banquet
which was rendered to Lieutenant Ro-
tan and myself, is but another evil
dence of the "simpatia" which seems
to exist alone in the hearts and souls
Of that great half Of the Latin race
the Italians
Through Lieutenant Rotan the Red
Cross has been honored by this ban
quet, and through myself the U. S.
Army, and | feel that a magnificent
climax was given to my service last
ing two years-since the day America
entered the war-the first year one
of preparation in camp while dream
ing Of the fight waging overseas and
calling US, and the last year one of
activity along a hundred and sixty
miles of Italian Front.
"Surely the land of Dante and Leo
pardi, of Tasso and D'Annunzio the
poets, of Leonardo da Vinci the mas
terpainter and engineer, Of Maechia-
velli the statesman, of Verdi the mas
ter musician, of Columbus the Disco
verer, of Garibaldi and Mazzini the
patriots, passed through her period OF
travail at the sacrifice Of the lives
blood and treasure of her sons, tc
give birth to a New Peace, bought by
her noble abnegation in seeking the
right affliation at the cost of hen
fight against numbers that would ap.
/ pal any but the Sons of Italy making
her first against propaganda thai
would have crippled any but an TIA
liam nation secure in the calm conf
dence that could only come with the
consciousness that she was fighting
for the Right against Might; deter
mined that her flag should never b.
/ lowered so long as her sons should b,
able to WELD the sword-THIS wa
the Italy I had the honor to serve
| THIS the Italy under whose flag
passed that unforgettable clever
months to see her at last rise trium
phant over the PROSTATE body Of he
age-old foe.
"To me, as to all Americans in Ita
: ly, the labors of the campaign hav
been a privilege rather than a burden
! and we all returned feeling that