The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-11-07

/; Immediately after the armistice,
the good people of the United states
turned their attention to ways and
means to welcome home the boys who
had left the community for service
either at home or cover there AT
the same time many turned ther
thoughts in the direction of a memor-
inl for those who made the supreme
sacrifice; those who were left on IA
field Of battle or passed to the other
shore while on duty.
Rejecting the big hearts and ap-
preciaticn of the American people,
plans for the memorials and the
Homecoming went ahead at the same
time. the wishes of those returning
being taken for granted in both cases.
In the plans for the homecoming
anything was acceptable, and to all,
the memory of the hot coffee ana
doughnut handed us by the Salvation
Army as we hit the pier will hnger IN
our minds long after the menu OF
the biggest banquet we ever attend
ed will have been forgotten.
The memorial was mentioned in
Ardmore before we ever saw q cam
.tonment. and | doubt IL any man in
old "E" Company Engineers will ever
forget the occasion. 1t was the even
ing Of the day we had received our
-typhoid shot, three shots in one. The
citizens of Ardmore We're gathered
in the park to bid us God speed
and the local Masonic lodge present
ed us with beautiful silk flag. In
addressing the boys, in cheering us
on our way and letting us know now
the people appreciated our efforts
how they were with us and would
never forget us, the speaker prom
ned on behalf Of the citizens, that
for those who did not return TO take
part in the welcome home; to those
of us who remained on the Other
side. "A shaft would be raised in the
park ana our names would be carved
thereon in enduring letters, and ON
memories would always be kept greer
IN the hearts of the people. l don
know how the Others felt, but aftei
the triple shot of serum, a hard days
work and the long march from camp
+ felt like handing in my name will
the request that they start carving
the monument at once.
on the other side, this promls
came back 10 me many times, and
reached the conclusion that il | ha'
ANYTHING TO say regarding monu
ment to my memory, that l woul'
vote for one that would be a livini
one rather than a dead one.
One of my earliest recollections o
n monument of size, was the ohelisl
in Central Park in New York. Cleo
patras needle Scientists and archae
ologists dug 1t up after 1t had beel
hurled under the dust of centurie
and brought it to this country. Eve'
10 this day, there is some doubt a
to the meaning of certain features
and the men who can read the in
scriptions and tell you its purpose
can be numbered on the fingers q
one hand. The names of founders Q
this Republic and those who battle
for the independence of this countr
will be fresh IN the memories
civilized peoples long after Cleopat
ras needle has turned to dus
Since my first glimpse of Cleopat
ra's needle, have seen the Sphyn
and the Pyramids of Egypt, and hay
seen pyramids in Central Americ
and southern Mexico, that To th
day are mystery as to their oiei
&, or what they represented. Tho worl
Is full of dead monuments that file
one-tcnth Of their mission for les
than one one-hundredth of the tim
they should have served. and M
now forgotten or are looked on n
freaks or relies of II bygone ag
Let US not add to the list
L do not mean by this that "
are not to erect shafts and tablet
TO the sacred memory of our depar
cd. There IL n place for these
fiji, Just as the tombstone In u
cemetery has n mission to fill. III
a hundred thousand dollar tombstor
would be severely criticized by a
right thinking people. A certain lin
n should be set on expenditures Il
such purposes.
II any Of the men who died f.
the cause had been asked at the la
moment what he wanted the folks
q after he was gone, to perpetual
Ne memory, and n pledge would
= made him that his last wish won
be compiled with, l am sure he won
hive said Garry on" or words to th
effect. "Yes, they will carry on O
rteht, but they want to erect n mon
n,ent to your memory. What will
b., tablet. shaft or n buildir
eat will help in carrying ON q
work you started7" and the answ
would come. Help my buddy
help the people at home to reali
what wonderful country they hov
ana do all you can to make II be