Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-12-16

WELCOME HOME FUND.

IN w AtCHA AC 'CS' HCAAN
and was In no way intended as a re-
ward for their services and should not
be taken as a measure of the city's
appreciation for what the boys did.
That is something that can never be
measured in dollars and cents
Attention is called to the fact that
two distinct committees were ap-
pointed at the time. One was to ar
range for a suitable memorial to be
erected In honor of the boys from this
city who fought and died for democ-
racy, and the other was to arrange
for a suitable celebration to welcome
the. boys back home.
Because the war ended rather
abruptly and the time for the return
OF the boys was rapidly approaching,
the committee to plan for the perman-
ent memorial was s~ide-tracked for the
time-being and the committee to ar
range for the welcome home celebra-
lion was given full sway. The people
41a thob bttti 0ihN pAtAAA5
the various Liberty Loan campaigns
and the different drives for the Red
Cross, War Camp Community Service,
Y. M. C. A, k. of c., Salvation Army
and other organizations for the bene-
fit OF the oldiers and sailors and 1t
was apparent that it would not do to
try to raise money for too many OBJ
jects at one time.
1t was estimated that 1t would take
about SIS, 900 to have n fitting cele-
b~ration. The idea was to have the
city appropriately decorated; banners
were to be flung across the main
streets and. after much discussion, and
having sounded out the sentiment of
such men as were already back, it was
decided to have q parade Of citizens
with the boys looking on. 1t was
claimed that the soldiers had had
enough parading and they would
rather see someone else do the march
ing. The people were to march past
the Boys and cheer them instead OF
having the boys march past the peo-
pie to be eheered.
This matter finally settled, compli-
/ cations began to arise at once. 1t vas
found that the Amboy boys had been
greatly scattered since joining the
colors. At the outset most of the To-
cal boys were supposed to be in the
sf1th infantry of the 18th Division,
but after going TO Camp Dix many of
the boys wore sent to Camp Mcclellan
to- fill up tho ranks of the goth Di-
vision. Others were transferred else
where, not to mention the large mum
Der that Mad enlisted in other regi-
ments and entered different branches
of the service Then came the doubts
and uncertainty as to when the diff
ferent divisions would arrive from
overseas.
In tho meantime more and more of
the boys were appearing on the streets
ind finally 1t was agreed that by June
80 the great majority would be re-
leased and If there was to be any
welcome at all 1t ought to take place
while the boys were still being well
coined by their friends.
Accordingly, the date was fixed and
plans completed. But realizing that
many of the boys were still in the SER
vice n could not be here for the
celebration, 1t was decided to reserve
some Of the fund for the late corners
The celebration was held and, at
the time. was pronounced a great
success. If there was any fault
finding by the soldiers it was not
leud enough to be heard. The whole
celebration was just what it was
claimed to be-a welcome for the
boys. There was no thought of a re-
Ward. OIL a token of appreciation or
anything else. but just a whole city
devoting a day to general festivities
in greeting the returned soldiers.
Now, the amount spent on the cele-
bration June 80. in proportion to the
number of boys who were here on
that occasion, averaged about $40 per
man. We do not believe that the
boys who AVE returned since that
celebration want any more spent on
them in the way of q welcome than
a spent on the other boys.
1t is agreed that $40 when handed
OF in cash does not mean very much.
but this fund was raised for a cele-
bration and not to be handed out as
donations for services rendered.
@At the same time, it must be re-
membered hat every penny of this
money was contributed by the people
of Perth Amboy to be spent for the
soiesers. The boys have been home
sesseng 0 that it sounds ridiculous