The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1921-07-14
AMERICAN LEGION
MEMBERS TO
VISIT EUROPE

New York, July 14.-The $50 men,
berS of the American Legion, who
will visit France in August and Sep
tember at the invitation of President
Millerand, will represent every sec
tion of the United States and all arms
of the fighting forces in the war.
Every state will have its quota and if
possible every combat division will
have representation, says an an
nouncement by the Legion.
A fixed quota, based on Legion
membership, has been allotted to each
state. Not all who have asked to
be included can go, but it is the pur-
pose of Franklin D'Olier,, the former
national commander of the Legion
who is in charge of the pilgrimage, to
make the party "a cross section of
our former fighting forces" Selection
of the members is in the hands of
the state organizations of the Legion.
Details of the tour in France which
have just been made public show that
the Americans will visit again the
principal American battlefelds, at
tend various dedicatory ceremonies
and will be entertained at numerous
receptions.
The party will sail aboard the
steamer George Washington on Au-
gust ) and will return about the
middle of September. The principal
events of the visit will be the dedica-
tlon at F'lirey of monument to the
American army, which is the gift of
the French municipality and the peo-
pie of Lorraine; and the laying of the
corner stone of the new bridge
"Pont Roosevelt over the Marne at
Chateau -Theirry.
President Millerand. Premier BRAND
and the marshals of France are ex-
pected to be present at the ceremon-
les at Flirey. Flirey is familiar
ground to the A. Z. F. 1t is situated
in the old Toul sector which the
American troops took over in 1917.
The village itself is only 1000 yards
from the old front line of the sector
which held at one time or another
by II American divisions.
Another reception of note to the
Americans will be by the little town
of st. Die in the old Duneville sector.
also long held by Americans. St.
Dies claim to special attention in
light of the Legion visit rests on the
fact that in st. Die stands the house
IN which the continent of America
received its name. 1t is the one-time
abode of WaldSee Muller, the Alsa-
tlan monk, when he wrote the letter
suggesting that new world take the
name of the Italian navigator,
Amerigo Nespucci.
Marshal Foch will be lat home to
the visiting Legionaries. He will re-
ceive them in the house in which he
was born in the town of Taubes inl
the PYreneeS mountains.
There will be receptions to the pil-
grims at Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse,
Lyon, Metz and Strasbourg. At Yer
dun the party will sleep in the famous
citadel ,
AT Rheims the veterans will attend
the presentation of the 5000 ,OGO-
franc gift Of the Carnegie fauallation
to the city library there. At Blois,
st. Jeanne Dare will be honored The
Legionaries will witness the dedica-
ton of statue to the French heroine
which is the gift of the Joan of Arc
committee of New York.
Under the terms by which the Le-
glon accepted the hospitality of the
French government. the expenses of
the expedition will be borne by the
delegates themselves or by the Lei
gion organization.
Mr.. D'Olier says that the proposal
for the visit has been received with
such enthusiasm by the American
veterans as to constitute a striking
and spontaneous tribute to France
as a former ally.
"The American veterans feel that
the Forthcoming expedition marks
the entrance Of the Legion on the
stage of international affairs and
that it will tend to knit more closely
a mutual understanding among vet
Grams. not only of France and the |
United States. but of all allied coun-
tries" he said. 1t shows that in the
hearts of Americans who wore the
uniform there surely dwclls an abid- |
ing affection for France and the
poilu. 1t is noteworthy that MANY
come from men who did II
not see foreign service durinp tba