The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-25
TO DISABLED men
Amrican Lyon Issus Christ
mas Greetings.
Yuletide Spirit Carried to 10000
Veterans.

The following Christmas greeting
| to the disabled ex-service men in the
hospitals of the United States. has
been issued by F. W. Galbra:th, Jr.. ma
tional commander of the American
Legion.
On recent visit to Topeka, Colonel
Galbraith spoke at some length on the
plight in which the ex-service men
who gave their health or their limbs
for their country, have been left.
The Christmas Greeting.
The greeting is as follows:
1T is with emotions more deeply
felt than it is possible for me to ex-
press that 1 greet you this Christmas
Oay-yOu men to whom this nation
owes a debt it can never repay; you
whose fortunes 1t snail ever be the
first proud privilege and duty of the
American Legion to espouse, you who
are still in hospital because of wounds
try'S service.
Two Years Since Last Shot.
More than two years have passed
since the echo of the last shot died
away. 40 those of US who by good
luck came thru and whose sacrifices
should not be mentioned in the same
breath with yours, they have been
busy years. They have gone swiftly
by while we have been re-establish-
ing ourselves in the callings of peace,
insurIng futures to ourselves and our
families. SO much has interviewed
that the war seems very far away at
times.
II know some of you men feel that
many of us seem to have forgotten
there ever was a war. These same
two years have not passed so swiftly
flor you who remain in hospital. Twen-
| ty thousand of you still are there
silver tubes in your sides, lungs
burned out by gas, perhaps one leg
here, one in the Argonne. The war is
still very near and very real to you
who are the living and virtually for
gotten examples of the terrible price
that was paid for the victory. We en-
joy the fruits of the victory. You,
who did most to gain it, only pay the
price, it seems.
Shortly after I was elected national
commander of the American Legion
was shocked at the reports that
came to me concerning conditions
which surround our comrades in hos
pital. I do not refer now to the con-
ditions in the hospitals themselves or
and treatment which as patients you
receive. There have been reports of
grave shortcomings in these particu-
liars, but as a whole. the situation has
improved. Inc Legion, 1 am pTOuu
to say has had a good deal to do
with that improvement and will con-
tinue to have. What I speak of here
lis charge which make against my
self as well as against the rest of the
general public here on the outside.
1.-The charge is that of neglect. True,
the nation has given literally to see
that you are properly housed. dieted
land cared for professionally. Millions
have been voted at mere nod for
THESE purposes-and then we have
lvirtuously turned away and said,
Well the jobs done-these boys can't
have too much
Job Is Not Finished.
| "But the job hasn't been done. You
linen know Where are the visitors
who once thronged the hospitals bear
ling flowers, gifts and entertainment
Where are the folks with their auto
mobiles who used to vie with each
other for the honor of taking their
iwounded heroes out for spin? Where
iare the thousand and one little human
attentions from the world outside that
mean so much more than medicine
and with which the public showered
our disabled in war days? Those are
1.-THE questions you might ask but don't
because you are men-fighting men,
fighting now the hardest battle of all.
"And what is our answer?
'"The men and women who are hon
1
arms are declaring new deal. our
local posts in the vicinity of every
hospital have their programs under
way. You will hear from them. II
you don't, write our national head
| quarters. We are all going to get to-
| gether again. Life is going to be made
more livable while you are in hos
pital. and when you get out there will
| await you, at the hands of a grateful
people, opportunities whereby you
| NAV train for and take up suitable and
congenial occupations in which tc
start life anew, with an even chance
America needs you.
We Are All Sorry.
1.-THE American Legion has no mo-
nopoiy on loyalty in this country, OF
on feelings of gratitude to you who
have given so much. There are one
hundred million others who feel a:
we do in the legion. We shall have
their support, know. We've all beer
negligent and we're sorry. We're al
buddies still-and intend to prove it
The American Legion is yours. If in
any way it can serve you, COM
mand it.
1--WE fought together then-we'I
stick together now.
with all best wishes of the season
and profound admiration, salute you
Sincerely,
"F. w. GALBRAITH, JR.
National Commander The American