The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-03-01
THOMAS SPEAKS
TO LARGE CROWD
Memorial Service Under
Auspices Brattle-
bOrO Post
FRENCH DIPLOMAS
OF VALOR GIVEN
Received by Next of Kin of Young
Men Who Gave Lives in World War
Silk Flag Presented by Woman's
Relief Corps Last Evening.

Relief Corps Last Evening
Under the auspices of Brattleboro
post, No. ;, American Legion, an impress
sive and very largely attended memorial
srevice was held last evening in the
Auditorium, when Rev DIR. John NJ.
Thomas of Middlebury, Vermont depart
ment commander of the American Le-
glon, gave peculiarly fitting address
This was preliminary to the presenta-
tion of French Memorial Diplomas to the
nearest of kin of those in this section
who died in service during the World
war. Twenty eight of the memorial di-
plomas had been received and five Others
are expected soon.
After brief opening remarks by Cap
tain Ernest w Gibson, chairman. who
was personnel officer of the 9TH Pioneer
infantry, invocation was offered bv Rev.
Herbert ?. Woodin, pastor of the Centre
Congregational church. Captain Gibson
then gave a short address of welcome
saying in part: eve are met in memory
OF those who made the supreme sacrifice.
Greater honor hath no man than
to sacrifice his life for Others" He made
reference to the request of the French
government several months ago for list
OF all American men who died in the
service and spoke of the memorial as de-
signed to keep alive the memory of those
brave sons who sacrificed their lives and
to testify that that great sacrifice is not
forgotten by the people of France
At this point the audience, which
filled the seating capacity of the first
two floors with many Others in the gal
lery and many standing, was asked to
stand while the national hymn of the
French republic. the Marsellaise, was
sung by Frederic C. Adams. accompanied
on the piano by Miss Jessie L. Hawlev.
France in Battle Flame. by Edward
Markham, a poem which is read all over
the land at obseryances of a similar ma
ture, was read by Rev Delmar Z. Trout
pastor of the First Uniyersalist church.
and was followed by the singing of The
Americans Come, by Mr.. Adams.
| Mr. Gibson then introduced the S'chap-
| lain who was greatly loved and honored
by those of the boys with whom he came
| in contact and now commander of the
state department of the American Le-
gion, John NJ. Thomas, educator. soldier.
president of Middlebury callege, and COM
mander of the state department of the
American Legion
! In opening, DIR. Thomas said: eve
meet because the republic of France. i'm
mourning for 1000 900 of men. turns to
remember the sorrow in 100000 American
! homes; lifts her eyes across the seas and
seeing through the mists and storms the
sorrow on this side sends the comfort
which she has learned from her own far
greater sorrow and bids those here to
remember that they weep not without
comfort who weep for the dead who died
for victory"
He then gave historical facts concern
ing the war from the time America
made her declaration on April 6, 1917, to
the time of the armistice on Nov. H.
1918, telling of the mobilization of forces
and industry and transportation facili-
ties on land and sea when war was de
Il clared and at the close. In referring to
the slogans as to what would win the
war. the speaker declared that it was
not food or ammunition, Liberty bonds
or savings certificates or anything of that
sort. but that it was won in the Provi-
dence of God on the western front by the
heroism of the Belgians, the British and
the magnificent pOillls of France who did
their part. but that the final push and
Isupreme effort which turned the tide and
drought about victory from a deadlock
and this was made possible by the
American doughboy.
The battles of Chemin Des Danes
Chateau Thierry, st. Mihiel. and Meuse
Argonne, which was the greatest Ameri
can battle of history, were commented
upon in comparison to the great battles
of Gettysburg and the Wilderness in the
|, Civil war. That the armies were made OF
!, individuals, and that it is the character
of individual men that counts, was the
declaration of theispeaker. 1t was in this
lpart of his address that he told two ex
tremely interesting stories of actua
levents on the battlefields which showed
the character of the American boys. "ThC
lworld must respect the nation whicl
bred such men and we must give to the
flag they honored and the country they
served not only the devotion of our owr
hearts, but we must see to it that from
this time on every time we look upoT
these certificates we must resolve that
we shall give to our flag and our country
not only our love and service to the liv.
ing, and devotion and service to those
who have been taken away from us but
that which they would have given if they
had been spared. There can be no lesson
of greater devotion and greater love fol
! Continued on Pare S1