Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-09-11
'lAFAYETTE.MARNE
HONOREO BY CITY
Exercises Around Statue of the
Marquis on College Green
Mark Double Anniversary
Major Jean Malye Speaks as
Representative of France

with the tri-color Of France as back
ground and the stars and Stripes waving
proudly beside him. while nearby the
majestic statue of the Marquis de
Lafayette. strewn with the pronered
garlands Of the people ~ Burlington.
looked down upon the gold-staf e service
flag Of the city. Major Jean Malye. wear
ing the blue uniform Of the French army.
with two wound stripes and the limit
Of service stripes. brought nearer together
the hearts of America and France in his
! expression of the spirit of the new
France, while concentrating Sunday
afternoon the birthday of Lafayette and
the anniversary of the erst battle of the
Marine. 1t was a perfect summer day.
and the historic campus of the University
of Vermont was thronged with eager
spectators, including representatives of
many of the patriotic societies Of the
city. A large number of French people
were in the assemb bly,.
This celebration in honor Of Lafayette
and in memory of the men who fought
and fell in France cannot fail to become
one of the events Of historic interest in
the annals Of Burlington. marking as II
does the closer union Of France and
America az the close Of a great struggle
in which they were allies. and placing
Burlington on the list Of cities whose in
terest in France is of special significance.
The ceremonies Sunday were in charge
Of the War Camp Community Service, as
sisted by the Chamber Of Commerce. and
the success Of the days ceremonies is due
largely to their efforts.
The program was not an extensive one,
the events of the ceremony being CEN
tered about the address Of Major Malye,
who was sent here especially for this
occasion by the French High Commission.
Previous to the address. the base Of the
statue of Lafayette. at the head of Col
eee street on the campus Of the Uni
versity of Vermont. strewn with
flowers brought by the people Of the city.
without regard for any particular form
or ceremony. Anyone who wished brought
these floral tributes. and all were placed
about the base of the statue as artistically
as possible.
Shermans band was in attendance for
the occasion, marching up College street
to the Statue just previous to the cere-
, mony and rendering one two mum
hers, When the audience had gathered at
the appointed place. Just to the right Of
the statue on the college green. Charles
F. Ernst of the war camp community
service led in the singing of America. "
While The Battle Hymn of the Repub-
lie was being sung by the assembly,
, Major Malye, Lieut.-Col. H. A. Leonhauser
and T r Wright. chairman of the war
camp community service. accompanied by
, a bodyguard from the American Legion.
carrying the god-starred service flag
of the boys from Burlington who gave
their lives in the great war. approache ID
the statue of Lafayette. The flag was
placed by the statue. and Major Malye
, and Lieut.. Colonel Leonhauser placed at
; the foot of the flag two wreaths in COM
memoration Of the dead heroes
Following the ceremony. Major Malye
Colonel Leonhauser and Mr.. Wright
: mounted the platform which had been
prepared for the occasion, and the Mar
seillaise was sung by the audience
I Mr.. Wright presided and spoke brief
of the significance of the day. and Major
Malye was then introduced by James
?. Taylor, historian of the war camp
community service Following Major
Malye's address. several community
, songs were sung, closing with The Star
Spangled Banner Major Malye greeted
a large number Of the audience before
= leaving the grounds, shaking hands with
each one who came forward to meet
him and having word for each He
discovered that many of them could spea /,
, his own tongue.
Mr. Taylor, in his very satisfactor in.
PRODUCTION Of Major Malye. said that it is
, a great thing to have two citizenships
Ever since the DAYS Of Lafayette, we
have admired France, and since the
beginning of the war and especially since
the first battle Of the Marine. we have
loved France. \ year ago following the
CELEBRATION of Bastille day in this city
, a message was sent to France from the
people Of Burlington expressing every
! good wish to that war-torn country
= Now, A little more than year later
France is returning message to us
through Major Malye who comes az a
, representative of the French high com.
1 mission, In the name Of the city pre-.
4 sided over by the statue ot Lafayette
, Of the city on the lake discovered b,
Samuel de Champlain. the birthplace OF
y Admiral Mayo. who helped to keep oper
1 the waters between America and France
: during the war. Mr.. Taylor welcomed
[ Major Malye to Burlington.
Though only so years of age. Maio,
: Malye on account If the experienced
1 which were his during the four years Of
the war. speaks with an authority far
beyond his years He is a modest young
man, and though II is known that ht
? entered the war on the very frst dan
that fighting began, as a lieutenant ir
machine gun battalion Of the 234tf
I Regiment, and served with distinction
g throughout the great struggle. he woulc
= say very little about his war expert
n ences when asked about them
= "Oh, | went through the usual thing
n tramping, wounds sickness gas; abou
d everything except getting captured o,
;, killed" he said with shrug of tn,
e shoulders. But the war Is over now
. let's talk about something else" h,
added
Major Malye has just returned from Z
visit 10 the devastated regions of his ma
n tive country. and he is connected will
the French high commission in this coun
try, with headquarters in New York
: MAJOR MALYE's ADDRESS
II The will TO win" was the keynote o
g the address which Major Malye gave yes
q terday. He sketched briefly the sacrifc,
attendant upon the coming Of Lafayett,
to America, which was prompted by tn,
belief in the ideals for which America
was hshting. then he launched into hi
= theme, which was the spirit of France
= both during the war, and since the war
c in refusing to believe that she was beate,
= at any stage OF the game. He reviewed
the details of the early days OF the war
the French retreat when outnumber b,
:, the German forces, the details OF tn,
II forced marches. the order of Marsha
| IA6f agtA