Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-02-16
AMERICAN LEGION
] EXERCISES SUNDAY
49, t5f-9t AVk vi HAhA ANHMvIN
!: Certificates Given by The
French Government to
-
i i be Awarded
RICHMOND THEATRE
There Certificates to be Awarded Next
&. Of Kin of Men Who Made Supreme
Sacrifice During the War.

Il With special exercises on Washing
tons Birthday, every post of tn
American Legion in Virginia AM
throughout the country will assist i,
conveying to the next kin of tht
American soldiers, sailors and marine.
who died in the war, an expression
Of appreciation on the part of tht
French Government in the form ot
engraved certificates. Under the di
rection off Major William A. Stuart
Commander of the Department of Vir-
ginia, all posts in the Old Dominion
are now ready for the presentation.
The local post will hold its exercises
Sunday afternoon February %, in
the Richmond Theatre.
These certificates, each of which
has the name of the service man who
made the supreme sacrifice engraved
upon it, have been forwarded to the
Ito posts of the Legion in Virginia
by the department headquarters in
Richmond. Approximately 5000 GER
i .tifcates will be distributed in the
State, those from the army making
up the vast majority.
Franklin D'Olier, National Com
niander of the American Legion has
made arrangements with the Adju-
tant General Of the Army foraithe dis
tribution of approximately 11s,4o9
certificates through posts of the Lee
gion in all cities and towns where
posts have been organized. To those
living in outlying sections the certifi-
Gates will be mailed.
The certificates for relatives of de-
ceased soldiers who reside in foreign
countries will be presented through
the Military Attaches Of the allied
countries, while those for Porto Rico
Alaska, Manila and Hawaii will be
distributed under the direction of the
several department. commanders OF
the American Legion.
The certificate shows group fig
ure; from the cenotaph in the Avenue
des Champs Etysee, Paris. In the
scroll above. are the dates "19l4-1919"
Above the. group is quotation from
Victor Hugo which freely translated
!, reads, "The people should come tc
pray at the graves of those who died
for their country" The inscription
reads 'To the memory of .....'. Of
the United States of America, who
died for liberty during the great war
the Homage of France" and the en-
graved signature of the President Of
the French Republic, Raymond Poin-
care.
The honor roll is made up of l07,-
952 soldiers, $500 sailors and 1861
marines. The Marine Corps received
it's allotment of testimonials too late
to address and send them to district
recruiting offices for delivery to To-
cal posts for presentation, and all
Marine Corps testimonials will ac'
eordinely be mailed direct to the next
: of kin.
i In letter of instruction to the va
r;ous posts, Franklin D'Qher, Nation
al Commander of the American-Le
gion said:
referring to the proposed presen
tation of Honorary Certificates b!
the French High Commission at tn
direction of the French Government
to the next of kin of the men of thi
country who made the supreme sac
rifice in this world war, your heart
cooperation is sought in order tina
every preparation may be mad
through your efforts not only to
cause that commands our deepes
respect but also to a ceremony tina
will establish ;once and for all wha
this great brotherhood is doing in tn
interest of those less fortunate tha
SEsr.i r. @l.>.[3I ~
ourselves -
A program furnished by the Con
nunity Service Incorporated has bee
distributed to American Legion pos
throughout. the country suggestk,
the form ct exercises; to include a,
dresses and musical numbers ;inclu,
ing both French and american cor
positions, SpseiaI Sections viii be T
served for the relatives Of the des
;tb whom the certificates VIII Be al
ssi irihI,tad fallnr,iifar the caraynnns,