The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-11-07
Memorials: Living Or Dead?
X. W. PATTERSON

ter and the world a better place in
which to live in"
AS the boys returned from over
there, the question of memorial has
been put up to them, and as a re-
suit, many elaborate plans for arches.
cenotaphs, etc, have been scrapped,
and competitive designs for struc-
lures that would serve the double
purpose Of an imposing monument
and structure in which to carry
on have been submitted, adopted
and erected.
The George r. Anderson Post of
the American Legion has gone on
record as favoring living monu-
ment instead of a "dead"on and
the members of the citizens com
mittee are also in favor of the plan.
The question was, what purposes will
it best serve? There are memorial
hospitals, memorial schools, memoir
.ial homes, etc. What do we need
in Ardmore and Carter county?
Turn to the preamble of the con-
and you will find the following open
ing words, For God and Country"
Let us start with that: Dedicated
to God and Country" in sacred MEM
ory of those who died for God and
Country" Continuing with the pre-
amble: "ro uphold and defend the
Constitution of the United States of
America; to maintain law and order;
10 foster and maintain one hundred
per cent Americanism; to preserve
the memories and incidents of our
associations in the Great War; to in
culcate Il sense of individual obliga-
ton to the community, state and ma
ton; to combat the autocracy Of
both the classes and the masses; TO
make right the master Of might; to
safeguard and transmit 10 posterity
the principles Of justice, freedom and
democracy; to consecrate and sanctify
our comradeship by our devotion to
mutual helpfulness."
Whether he realized 1t at the time
or not, and the chances are that he
did not fully realize it, the man who
took the oath and wore the uniform
of Uncle Sam automatically took over,
absorbed and lived up to that creed
and became bigger and better men.
And those who have returned real
ize that the pal who was left over
there died for the objects the Ameri-
can Legion is organized to perpetu-
ate. And n memorial to their memory
should be builded so as TO best carry
on the work they gave their lives for
enabling those of Js who came back
TO carry on the duties of our pledge
First of all il should provide n
hearth and home for the legionnaire
at no more expense to the individual
than his yearly dues, which are the
same for all posts. There Is no class
or rank in the legion, and unlimited
wealth will not give a single privi.
lege to the man possessing 1t that
cannot be enjoyed by the poores
tfrom the world standardD member
The richest man in the legion Is tho
100 per cent American who lives VI
| to the purposes for which we are as
sociated. And no greater heritag,
van w pdSStu oil W poStctItN lh'ti
that.
7 This would be the headquarters FOL
Carter county men and visitors. will
club rooms, library and meeting room
for the local post. A memorial, his
, torical and trophy room would con
tain photos and historical sketch o
the Carter county men who made tn,
] tasA sslFs st..l.a
and photos of the individuals an,
organizations out of Carter county
| and trophies, photos, etc. gatherc,
) from the battlefields would be KEEP
, here.
E And what Of those who stayed "A
5 home? The activities of the big heart
. ed mon and the self sacrificing womcl
of Carter county. of the childrcns
, organizations. Of all those who stage
$ at home and made the lot Of thos
: who went into the service easier
D these activities and the names Of III
@ 100 per cent Americans should h
{ preserved for postcrity. To the ma
G who served, the bitterness of tn
i after war days has been sweetcne
~ Wv ''N'h'iNo va wv WI
r for us by those who stayed at hom,
and lest others forget, permancn
r record should be prepared and pre-
[ served In this memorial building a
o u guide and inspiration to the com
@ ing generations.
g The purposes for which the Lion,
Il Rotary, kiawanis and other organiza
d tions were formed will be foun
1 somewhere IN the preamble to ou
II constitution, II not the exact word
j. at least the spirit. What more III
il ting thing than that they be house
e under the same roof They coul
G each have their general club room {
r. rooms. and hold their luncheons
o room provided for that purpos
g While the subject has not been take
;. up officially with these organization
= It is possible that general secretar