The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-12-26
NATIONAL COMMANDER
GALBRAITH SENDS NEW
YEAR GREETINGS

New York City, Dec. 25.-A New
Year greeting has been sent by +. w.
Galbraith Jr., national commander of
the American Legion, to 10000 sick
and disabled veterans of the world
war in 1.400 hospitals. 1t will be
read or posted on the bulletin board
in every hospital. The American
Legion is making a special effort TO
provide New Year cheer and enter
tainment to disabled comrades. The
message follows
To Our Disabled Comrades
1T is with emotions more deeply
felt that 1t is possible for me to ex-
press that greet you this New
Years day-you men to whom this
nation owes debt II can never pay;
you whose fortunes it shall ever be
the first proud privilege and duty Of
the American Legion to espouse-
you who are still in hospitals because
Of wounds and infirmties 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 sacri-
fices 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-establishing ourselves in the call
ings Of peace, insuring futures to
ourselves and our families. So much
has interviewed that tho 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 swift
ly for you who remain in hospitals.
Twenty thousand OF you still are
there--silver tubes in your sides,
lungs burned out by gas, perhaps
one leg here, ono in the Argonne.
The war is still very near and very
real to you who are the living and
virtually forgotten examples of the
! terrible price that was paid for the
victory. We enjoy the fruits of that
victory. You, who did most to gain
it, only pay the price, it seems.
"Shortly after 1 was elected ma
, tional commander of the American
Legion / was shocked at the reports
that came to me concerning condi-
tons which surround our comrades
in hospitals. / do not refer now TO
the conditions in the hospitals them
selves or the nature Of the profess
sional care and treatment which as
patients you receive. There have
been reports Of grave shortcomings in
) these particulars but as whole
the situation has improved. The le-
|, gion, 1 am proud to say, has had a
good deal to do with that improve
ment and will continue to have. What
I speak Of here is q charge when
1 make against myself as well as
against the rest Of the general public
here on the outside.
I. The charge is that Of neglect. True,
the nation has given literally to see
that you are properly housed, dieted
and cared for professionally. Millions
have been voted at mere nod for
these purposes-and then we have
virtuously turned away and said'
'"well, that jobs done-these boys
can't have too much"
"But the Job hasn't been done.
You men know. Where are the visit
ors who once thronged the hospitals
bearing flowers, gifts and entertain
ment? Where are the folks win
their automobiles who used to vie
with each other for the honor of TAX
ing their wounded out for spin?
Where are the thousand and one
little human ATTENTIONS from the
world outside that mean so much
moro 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-fighting 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-arms are declaring a new deal.
Our local posts in the vicinity OF
every hospital have their programs
under way. You will hear from
them. If you don't, write our ma
tional headquarters. We are all go
ing to get together again. Life IS
going to be made more livable while
YOU are In the hospital and when
you get out. there will await you at
the hands of n grateful people. OPP
portunities whereby you may train
for and take up suitable and con-
genial occupations in which to start
life anew, with an even chance. AM
erica needs you.
The American Legion has no mon
opoly In this country, or on feelings
OF gratitude to you who have given
so much. There are one hundred
million others who feel as we do IN
the legion. We shall have their
support, know. We've all been neg.
ligent and we're sorry. We're 'hi
buddies still--and intend tc prove
it. The American Legion Is yours.
II in any way 1t can serve you, COM
mand Il 49,.
We fought together then-well stick
together now.
With oil best wishes Of the season
and profound admiration, salute
you.
Sincerely,
i. w. GALBRAITH, Jr,
National Commander.