The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-27
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

sioners are taking keen interest in the proposed memorial building to honor and perpetuate the brave soldier boys and gall lant sailor lads and others who gave their lives for their country was made plain to me the other day.
 Coming in on Lakeview car I saw Louis Pizitz get on in front of his home. Soon we were in conversation, and he told me that he had made all his plans to go east, but at the last moment was so deep ly interested in helping to put over the drive for the memorial building that he had given out his trip and was going to stay at home and aid to the best of his ability.
 I thought that for a while my speak ing as one of the 'four-minute men" was over, but along with the others I was drafted for service in the local field, and so those who attended the movie the made acquainted with the need of doing something worthy in the way of erecting permanent memorial to our loved ones who will never come back.
 
 The hour has arrived for the big drive, for it opens this morning, Friday, June H The message has been carried through out the entire state through the printed page and by word of mouth. It has been sounded not only in places of amusements but in houses of worship. The volunteer workers have worked day and night to prepare the people for generous giving. and now the chance is to be given to all to respond freely.
 Jefferson county. as in the past, Is go- | ing to be ready to do its part. It's true we have hero in Birmingham some big 1 projects of our own ahead of us, but we are not going to let that keep us from standing by the. state in it's effort to establish a memorial which will be q credit to Alabama Birmingham has shown itself to be unselfish during all of the war activities and it will not fail now that the call comes to keep green the memory of its beloved dead. -
 have just received a card from my good friend, Chaplain Emmett P. Smith known as the fighting parson," having won for himself the love and affection of the men of the famous 1S7th, saying Telegram from the war department an nounces my promotion to rank of cap tain. am TOW at Camp Shelby. but ex- pect to retdrn to Alabama and soon hope to be in a pastorate, and taste once more fried chicken, if such a thing can be found among the Baptists of the state.'
 
 1 Uncle Sam is honoring the living who fought so bravely to save his good name and it's up to Alabama to see that hel dead are remembered, for Alabama's name is on the lips of all nations now wherever they went the story of the fa- nous fighting 167th was on the lips of thu people. This states soldiers were sin gled out from all the rest and referred to in France by the name of their state. l
 Is it any wonder when they did sucl heroic work at Chateau-Thierry, St. Mi ! hfel and Sedan It is up to Alabama t preserve the history of this wonderful
 fighting organization for all time Thi
 was the prime motive which made tn
 memorial take the shape which it did This is why a massive building is to b. ! erected. It is fit that the official record - of the regiment, and the archives of tn . various units composing it. and tn 8 trophies of war should be properly house. 8 and cared for.
 . But many other men from Alabama aid ed in making the state,s record and thei :. deeds must be recorded and their trophie
 preserved so that our children and ou . grandchildren can be inspired by thel . deeds of valor. It will be place nc only to create patriotism among the grow Il ing generation, but it will be holy groun for the men who had part in the mak
 ing of such history to have their imagina
 tion stirred and their memories refreshe
 as they see evidences on all sides of tn - things wrought by Alabamians in the fac ' of death. 0 It is proposed that the building itse IT shall be work of art wrought out h beautiful Alabama marble Provision vi Ia be made for statues of our heroes. e the walls will be painted scenes, of u e battles in which Alabama men were a gallantly led. The Alabama memoria ,. will furnish just the facilities needed, ,r enabling the proper constituted office m to collect all records and documents pea d ing on this states part in stopping u W unspeakable~ Hun.
 While Alabama was the first to provi'
 for a state memorial. others are rapid
 following in her footsteps. It is too Ia h now to discuss the action of the sta n- memorial commission in its determinati' y fo erect a memorial building" IT Fl matter was threshed out before it e- finally determined upon, and thereto n- ought to have the hearty support of y the people. It is true that some mig q wish it had taken other forms, but le 7a stand by those intrusted with the task iu Here are the reasons given for t ne choice of a memorial building: Ma at things. prompted the Alabama memor er commission to make it's decision in fav U. of a building From every part of t Y nation appeals have been register is against the erection of memorials whi
 will lose their beauty, their prestige.
 time advances into the twentieth e