The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-23
FRENCH PEOPLE
PRESENT TOKEN
Memorial Certificates
Given Families Of Men
Who Died for Liberty.
ENJOYABLE
GATHERING
Notable Event at City
Auditorium Marked by
Intense Patriotic Spirit
Of Multitude.

Expressive Of the appreciation for
the services of the American soldiers
who fought and died as the allies Of
France in the great world war, and
OF sympathy rfor the families OF the
men who gave their all that justice
and right might prevail. certificates
forwarded to this country by the
French government were presented
last night Mt the City Auditorium to
the families and relatives OF 23i
Richmond soldiers who lie buried on
the fields OF France.
Tie meeting for the presentation
OF the certificates was held under the
auspices OF the American Legion, who
had been especially designated by
the government at washington to see
TO the proper distribution of these
tassful tokens of Frances sympathy
for Americas hereayed ones. Cap
saiw Oliver. attache OF the French fe-
Cation ri Washington. attended the
meeting as fhe representative of his
government and In response to the
glowing tribate paid by Rabbi T. n.
caiiss1l go the men OF France who
fenght shoulder 10 shoulder with the
Americans Throughout the terrific
struggle. he assured the families at
tlle men who died ON French soil
tlaat they would .nover be forgotten.
Captain Oliver spoke with de-
selesl French accent whichN made his
address III tifles rather difficult To
feiloss. but his expressions OF the GYM
aHSfssN ia his people fer the families,
vi shs@ men who fell in France Was
plainly caught, ANA was SO evidently
sincere, that he was roundly ap-
plaaticd when he had concluded his
address.
The meeting was presided over by
Colonel John A Cutchins. com niander
OF the Richmond branch OF the Amer
lean A.cgion. who in "a brief address
at the Opening recalled that at York
town the British surrendered to an
Erenchmen, led by distinguished
American.
The bodies of the French soldiers,
who fought for the liberty of America
lie buried in the bosom OF virginia.
he stated, and the bodies of Virgin
ians who fought with the French un-
der a distinguished Frencrman, now
lie buried in France, thus forming
a common tie between the two coun-
tries. ~-sn
He introduced Bishop O'Connell
who delivered the invocation, and a
prayer for the souls OF the men who
had fallen in war.
The speaker OF the evening was
Rabbi Il. ~. Calisch who took occa-
sion in his address to pay glowing
tribute to the memory OF George
washington. whose birthday had been
selected as a fitting time for the pre-
sentation OF the memorials from
France. and also took a whack az
william Hohenxollern 'the swash-
his noyitiate in modesty in the OBJ
scnr1ty OF Amerongen."
Tho auditorium had been profusely
decorated with fiags of ali nations, and
over the center OF the stage the pic
ture OF George Washington was su-
spended. Seated ON the rostrum were
Governor Davis with members OF his
STAFF. Mayor Ainslie, August Simon
pietri, the French consul; DR. Russell
Cecil, Arthur r, Wilmer, British con-
tut; General Charles ]. Anderson.
Bishop O'Conneli, Judge ID. G.. Rich
arfison, Rabbi II. n. Caliscn and
others.
As the party advanced to the ros-
trun1. accompanied BY Captain Oliver.
the French representative, the Rich
rnnnd phi1ha rInnnis rchesyga Struck
up the stirring notes of The Marsel-
aeise. and the assembiage rose In n
body while it was played and again
stood At attention when later in the
ceremonies the national anthem was
rendered.
The benediction was pronounced by
Rev. Pr, Russell Cecil, after which
members OF families to whom the
certificates were presented came for.
ward and rceeaved them from Post
Adjutant Walter Al. Williams.
The certificates are handsomely
engraved. Depicting 4 cenotaph. with
hsoup Of figures. tho principal 81
which symbolixes the soul ana shirt
of the American army (which
helped France To maintain alfve fhn
lame OF the torch OF liberty ana ius-
ttce."
Beneath the group are the words:
"a Ia Memoirc dcs Etats Unit
ID Amerique. Mort pour la Iibcrtc'
pendent 10 Grand suerrc. Houaare
II Hsice IN afsfes S1,t Sgia III
'publiquc. tsignedJ Ciemsnccau.
Ses