Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-12-02
NATIONAL OFFICERS
COMING NEXT MONTH
F. w. Galbraith, jr., Commander
of American Legion, and Miss
Pauline Curnick, Organizer, to
Address Woman's Auxiliary at
Convention January ID

Word was received in Burlington yes
terday that Frederick W. Galbraith, Jr.,
of Cincinnati Ohio, national commander
Of the American Legion, will be in Bur-
lington on January IA, 1921 to address the
First Department Convention Of the
Woman's Auxiliary of the American
Legion in the State of Vermont. 1t IL an
nounced also. that Miss Pauline C.
Curnick. national organizer for the wom-
ans Auxiliary of the American Legion,
will be present and address the conven-
ton. Now that q sufficient number of
auxiliary units have been established in
the State. these units can go ahead with
the department organization.
Plans are being made to make this first
department convention an affair which
will long be remembered In the history Of
the woman's auxiliary in Vermont The
national commander is not only a figure
of considerable Importance in the coun-
try at this time. but he is said to be a
speaker of unusual power and brilliance
and undoubtedly he will be heard In
Burlington by a large number Of people
1t Is the plan that he will address thu
convention on the afternoon OF the 14th
and that he will address an open meet.
ing. probably in the City Hall. either on
the evening Of the 18th of January. o.
the preceding evening The fact that
Commander Galbraith is coming to Ver-
mont for the particular purpose of at
tending this convention. and that he Ia
scheduled to speak nowhere else in the
States should mean a great deal to those
who hear him here.
This first convention will occupy one
Nn1, ~ nj I1<t ntt
ly completed. but within a short time
there will be a special Joint meeting OF
the woman's auxiliary and Burlington
Post of the Legion for the purpose Of
taking up plans for the convention.
Colonel Frederick w. Galbraith, Jr.. was
elected national commander Of the Amer
lean Legion on Sept. o. 1890 at the Sec
ond annual convention of the Legion. held
IN Cleveland, Ohio He was the first de-
partment commander OF the Department
Of Ohio. He was commanding officer Of
the fifth Infantry. 37th Division, in
France. and was cited for the Distin-
guished Service Cross. The American
Legion Weekly has the following to say
Of the new national commander:
On September %, 1913 Colonel Freder-
lex w. Galbraith. Jr.. commanding the
147th Infantry. s7th Division. performed
stinguished Service Cross.
Two years later to the day-on Septem-
Der q. 192o-Frederick w. Galbraith Jr
was elected national commander of the
, American Legion.
Mr.. Galbraith enjoys the distinction OF
having been both soldier and sailor in
the course Of his career. His early sur
roundngs did not lack for military at
mosphere. for he was born in Watertown,
Mass. where a large government arsenal
is located, and later attended grammar
school In Springfield Mass, where there
Is a United Sta'a- a~~'orv 0~d from which
~ the American Army rifle derives its
name.
MFR. Galhraith was graduated from the
Nautical Training School at Boston,
Mass. in 1893. and served as apprentice
coxwain, third mate and second mate
aboard American sailing ships following
his graduation. In 1898 he went to Gin
cinnati. becoming treasurer Of the West
ern Paper Goods company
The future national commander was
commissioned major In the First Infan-
try Ohio National Guard In 1916 and was
promoted to colonel the same year. In
1917. he was assigned to command tho 147th
Infantry. and remained AT ,"e head OF
this 37th Division unit th-r"chout the
war. The regiment was cor" ed prin-
cipally OF the First and ST. Infantry
Regiments. Ohio National ""7rd. Com
mander Galbraith won the y "'inRuished
Service Cross and the Crox de Guerre
for heroism In action during the Meuse-
Argonne offensive. He also participat ed
in the st. Mehiel attack and served IN tho
Baccarat and Ypres-Lys sectors.
His citation for the Distinguished Cross
reads:
For extraordinary heroism In action
near IVORY. France. September %. 1918
When an enemy counter attack was i'm
ninent, he went into the front lines I'M
der violent artillery and machine-gun
barrage. and by tho GOODNESS and certain
ty Of his orders and the inspiring exam
pie OF his personal courage reorganized
his own command and took command Of
other units whose officers had been lost
or diverted in the confusion Of battle.
Knocked down by a shell, he refused to
be evacuated and continuing to carry on
the work Of reorganizing his position and
dispos'ng the troops to a successful con-
clusion.''
At the first State convention of the
American Legion held in Ohio. Mr.. Gal
bvaith was unanimously elected depart-
ment commander. When his successor
J. II. McQuigg-was elected at the 1921
CONVEX ion. the title Of Past Department
Comma der was conferred upon Mr.. Gal
braith and it was provided that he should
he a delegate to all future conventions
of the American Legion of Ohio. During
the last year Mr.. Galbraith. in addition
to being Ohio department commander,
served as a member OF the National EN-
ecutive committee of the Legion.
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