Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-03-30

l. OoI 1AhJubahly l<OulO LClAlASCl, VI
American Legion held the flag to
which the "Pledge of Allegiance" was
given, and this with the singing of the
Star Spangled Banner" by the as
sembly opened the service.
J. L. Burt of the class of 1913 made
the presentation speech, and paid a
fitting tribute to the memory of Lieut.
enant Montgomery with these words:
Dear Friends The Wausau High
school class of 1913 graduated from
this school with honors. 1t was the
largest class ever graduated from
this high school up to that time.
"As a class we were first as well
as our school was first but the sec
ret of our success was largely CEN
tered in one man, Our President,
Frank Talbot Montgomery. Not only
was he our President, but our Cham
pion. He captained all our class
teams as well as our school teams, in
athletics, and led them to victory.
Aud through his skillful guidance as
President of our class he led us
through our school days up to grad
uation a successful class in all school
activities.
III 1911 Wu6n our country de-
clared war on Germany he felt it his
duty to prepare himself for that great
war. He left in May for the Officer
Training Camp at Fort Sheridan and
was graduated from there a second
lieutenant in August of the same year.
Sometime later he was sent to Camp
Mills, Long Island, and then to France
with the 77th Division. And it is there
that he still remains, for he fell in that
terrible charge known as Suicide Hill
in the Argonne, Oct. 3rd, 1918.
Friends, that's why we are here
today-our Champion is no longer
with us-but our memory of him still
is and shall always be.
"His conduct during life speaks far
more eloquently than anything that l
might say of his character. A char
acter so many of us knew and will
long remember.
"Our Country had need for real men
and he responded with the desire to
give the best that was in him. And
this he was called upon to do. He
made the supreme sacrifice-made it
for you-for me-for us ALL Can we
forget character of this kind? No,
never, and in token of the sincerity
our class feels we believe it altogether
fitting that to commemorate his death
a memorial be placed in the high
school as lasting monument to honor
the greatest of all sacrifices.
ITO the Wausau High school. We
the Glass of 1913 do present and ask
you to accept this Bronze Tablet with
the following inscription
Sin memory of Frank Talbot
Montgomery, 1st Lieut., 305 Inf, U.
IS. Army. Born 1898, Died 1918.
The Pres. of the class of 1913, who
died while serving with the American
Expeditionary Forces, Fighting for
world wide liberty. He was killed in
action Oct. 8, 1918 in the Muese Ar
gonne Offensive. This Tablet erected
by his classmates 1920
Not for the intrinsic value do we
ask you to accept this but for the
beautiful thought that goes with it,
for the pride that our class has in
having had so worthy a president and
the memory of whom we shall long
cherish"
Supt. S. B. Tobey made the speech
OF acceptance in behalf of the school.
Mr.. Tobey thanked the class for pre-
senting such an inspiring memorial to
the school, which will be an inspira-
| ton to students for years and years
to come.
Knox Kreutzer then sang 'oThe
Americans Come" with much feeling
and animation. This was followed by
brief but emotional address by Pat
rick I. Stone, Post Commander of the
Talbot Montgomery Post of the Ameri-
can Legion. Mr.. Stone spoke of Talbot
Montgomery as man of sterling quail
tiles who never put himself above
others and who showed his splendid
democratic spirit all the while he was
IN the army, for he was the one man
buck private" could term with pride
the buck privates" could term With
pride as their friend Mr.. Stone con-
cluded saying that the life of Talbot
Montgomery would always live, for
one as pure as honorable, and as wor-
thy could never die.
Mr.. Painter made a few remarks rel
/ atiye to the splendid school spirit
Tab always had shown, and this was
followed by the singing of "America. .
concluding with a benediction by the
Reverend d. Jenkins Williams.
Governor Philip was not able to
De present at the time of the dedica-
ton Of the tablet, but he arrived
shortly afterward and based his talk
upon the sacrifice Lieut.. Montgomery
mad made for his country. Gov. Phil
lipp told the pupils that his life should
De an example and an inspiration for
them to be willing to sacrifice their
lives, If need be. and their efforts and
time for the promotion of better in
sutuuons, morals, and ideals for