Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-12-24
XMAS MESSAGE
SPEEDS OUT TO
u. S. SICK BAYS
National Legion Commander
GaIbraith Sends Touching
Yule Greeting.
PRESENTS TO BE MADE

A Christmas message has been sent J
T. W. Galbraith, Jr, national Command
Of the American Legion, to 10000 sick al
disabled veterans of the world war,
400 hospitals, according to an announc
ment at national headquarters here t
day. 1t will be read or posted on Il
bulletin board in every hospital. II
American Legion is making a speci
effort to provide Christmas cheer an
entertainment to disabled comrades. I'll
message follows:
To Our Disabled Comrades:
1t is with emotions more deeply felt
than it is possible for me to express
that l greet you this Christmas day
you men to whom this nation owes
a debt it can never repay; you whose
fortunes 1t shall ever be the first
proud privilege and duty Of the
American Legion to eSpOuSe-you
who are still in hospital because of
wounds and infrmities suffered in
your country's service.
More than two years have passed
since the echo of the last shot died
away. To those of US who by good
luck came through and whose sacrl-
fees should not be mentioned in the
some breath with yours, they have
been busy years. They have gone
swiftly by while we have been re-
establishing ourselves in the callings
OF peace, 1nsuring futures to our
selves and our families. SO much
has interviewed that the war seems
very far away at times.
l 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
for you who remain in hospitals.
Twenty thousand of you still are
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 yir-
tually forgotten examples Of the ter
rible price that was paid for the VIC
tory. We enjoy the fruits OF that
victory. You, who did most to gain
1t, only pay the price, il seems
Shortly after / was elected national
commander OF the American Legion
l was shocked at the reports that
came to me concerning conditions
which surround our comrades in hos
pltal. / do not refer now to the con
ditlons in the hospitals themselves
or the nature Of the professional care
ana treatment which as patients you
receive. There have been reports of
grave shortcomings IN these particu-
lars, but as a whole the situation has
improved. The legion. | am proud
10 say, has had Il good deal TO do
with that improvement, and will con-
tlhue TO have. What l speak OF here
Is a charge which l make against my
sen as Wei as against the rest OF
the general public here on the out
side.
The charge is that of neglect. True.
tne Nation has given literally TO SEQ
thst You are properly housed dieted
and cared for professionally. Millions
nave been voted at a Nero nod for
these purpOses-and then we have
Firtnously turned away and said:
Well, that Jobs done-tbese boys
can't have too much"
But the Job hasn't been done. You
men know. Where are the visitors
who once thronged the hospitals bear
Ing Mowers. gifts and entertain
ment! Where are the folks with
their automobiles who use to Vie
with each other for the honor OF
taAlng their wounded heroes out for
splnF Where are the thousand
ana 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 the questions
you might ask, but don't because you
are men-hghtirg men, fighting now
the hardest battle OF all.
And what is our answer?
The men and women who are hon
ored to have been your comrades
in-srms are declared a 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
together again. Life is going to be
made more Hyable while ron are io
hospital and when you get out there
VIII await you at the hands Of a
grateful people opportunities whereby
you may train for and take mn suft-
aDie ana cOngenial occupations IN
which TO start life anew, with an
even chance. America needs you.
The American Legion has no
monopoly on loyalty in this country,
have given so much. There are one
hundred million others who feel as we
do IN the legion. We shall have their
support, l know: We've all been neg
buddies still--and intend to prove N.
The American Legion is yours. IL in
mand it.
We fought together then-we'u
stick together now.
With all best wishes Of the season
and profound admiration, l salute
you,
Sincerely.
+. W. GALBRAITH, JR..
National Commander, the American
Legion.
Throughout Indiana committees frOi
legion posts will visit hospitals wheI
there are ex-service men. The forme
most of whom are suffering frol
wounds received in battle, will receiy
appropriate remembrances from III
legion posts. The State departmer
sometime ago assigned to nearly fit