The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-08
Worlds Greatest
Volunteer Army
Being Recruited
Secretary Lane Sends Special Message
10 U. $. S. G. A. All Children
Eligible


Secretary Lane has sent a specia
message to the millions of youns
American soldiers enlisted in thu
United States School Garden army
which is Being recruited by the de,
partment of the interior, through thu
bureau of education
In addressing the children enrolled
under the banner of the crossed hoe
and spade, Secretary Lane says:
"A million and a half of you an.
swered the call last year; there should
be Ave million this year.
The war is over; but the world is
only beginning to be rebuilt. In many
parts OF Europe. farms and the mer
to farm them are no more; yet the
world mus be fed.
Food - the key to most Of the
problems OF Europe. The United
States School Garden army has 1t in
its power to be big help to the ma
tions in the task of feeding the world
Every garden added to the mum Der
planted last year means another steE
toward lasting peace.
The boys and girls who have liber-
" gardens in 1919 the garden army
officers who assist in keeping the
Army efficient. and the teachers who
direct the work, will render pa
triotic service to be compared only
with that of the men who won the
war"
Teachers whose pupils desire to en-
list in the School Garden army should
apply for enlistment blanks 10 the
TINTED States School Garden army
bureau of education, Washington. d
G. Any school child is eligible for
enlistment. Each company in this
army numbers from, 10 TO 20 young
soldiers. The company has a captain
and one or two lieutenants. depend
ing upon the number of soldiers en-.
listed Privates and officers are Civ.
en- proper insignia upon the request
of tn" teacher. The insignia bars are
provided free to members Of the
United States School Garden army
who themselves thread each with red
white and blue ribbon.
Any organization of school children
now doing garden work is eligible Il
enlistment. Such organizations may
keep their existing form. if they so de.
sire, and have the additional impetus
Of belonging to a national army fos
tered by President Wilson. the sec,
rotary of the interior, and the com.
missioner of education. The aim O
this army Is to nationaiize and to uni
fy the great work now being carried
on among the school children o
America
Soon after the School Garden army
was organized It became evident tina
: 1t had the elements of perma hence be
! cause it fitted in so we'll with schoo
! conditions in practically all the states
! The response 10 the idea 1t represent
| ed was instant and nation wide. TIL
! demand for the continuance of the or
! Ganization has been insistent and well
! night universal
! "A garden for every child ant
! every child in a garden" is the slo
/ gan of the big campaign. Directo
| j. II. Francis and his associates. VIII,
have provided these messag es to, tn
teachers and children of America
! urge immediate enlistment in sthf
| service.
1t Is evident that school-supervise
tegral part Of the school curriculum
in most of the states. The Unite
States School Garden army is tn
needed national organization to Civ
the children the patriotic and Ameri
canizing impulse that makes the WORK
us Secretary Lane has said. one of tn
most important educational move
/ ments of recent times