The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-02-24
Speech Of Augustine P. LOnergan
 Given At Presentation Of French
 Certificates To Kin Of War Heroes

Mir. Chairman, Members of the American Legion Of Bridgeport, Invited guests, and Friends: thank you for the great honor extended to me today to present to the next of kin of our heroic dead the testimonial of the French Government. I feel. as you all do, that the spirits of the dead are with us today, and that in the greatest sense of the word, we are come together in a hal lowed place apart. Thrilled, as you have been, by the self-sacri- flee of our men on land and sea; inspired, like you with their de-, votion to duty; address myself to a short statement of their deeds, with humility and with pride.
 To you, who are the next of kin of those whose memory we enshrine, I extend the sympathy of two nations, of France and of the United States. But with that sympathy you have a priceless heritage that no man can take from you. f'It is a sweet and noble thing to die for ones coun- try" wrote the Latin bards of old, and in the sweetness and the mo- bility of the death of your crusa- ders-for they were crusaders you will find the calm repsoe for your sorrows tha tthe world can not give.
 The thoughtfulness of the French Government in preparing the memorials is characteristic of it. France, the world has a1- ways said, knows how to do things, She knows, from her long experience with men and with nations, that behind the panop1y of war and above the smoke of battle, and beyond the sufferings of the field of honor, there is, in every land, among all peoples, recognition of the duty to support ones country if need be with the last drop of blood. It was found of old in the hearts of those who faced the rising sun in 1iberate the Holy Land from the Saracens, it was expressed in the actions of her chiva1ric knights of the middle ages, even in the disorders and b1oodshed of the Revolutionary Days the passions of men did not engulf it, in the last Seventies it fought a losing fight against a superior and prepared foe; and today this central theme of na- tionality in French history stands out as vindicated in a victory purchased at a horrible cost. France knows, as the world knows, that there is no adequate recompense suitable for the indi- vidual. The glory of victory for each is the glory of victory for all. With her energy spent, with the graves of her sons crowding her fields where once happy har- vests grew, she thinks in her sorrow of this, her sister Repub- lie, and in her characteristic manner, she prepares parch- ment that will be honored with place in every home from which our men went quick with life, never to return.
 Like France, her memorial, is noble in its simplicity. She gives to their memory her homage, than which she khas no. greater gift ''The people should come to pray at the graves of those who died for their country she quietly reminds us, and she knows we will do her bidding.
 Why is it that our heart thrills with the thought of France? Friendship, alone, is the great answer. When, in our youth, without resources, without aid, without even a cohesive plan of action, we endeavored to throw off the oppression of an unfriend- 1y ruler, in France alone did we find a friend of strength. Her self a stumbling block to neigh bors surfeited with the hoary doctrine of the divine rights of kings; herself recognizing iber- ey, fraternity, equality as the fountains of government (even if secured only through travai), she saw in the Colonies friends in need, and came to us with men, moneys and material.
 Lafayette came! Born to royal blood, nurtured in the highest traditions of the aristorcracy of France, he saw as Jefferson saw in every man, a free citizen and a bulwark of the nation.
 He placed his whole resources at the disposal of Washington. The field of BranGywine ran red with his blood but hec 6nsid-