The Colorado statesman., 1921-06-11
MEMORIAL ADDRESS FOR COMRADES
OF CEN. CUYV. HENRY GARRISON NO, 8
Army and Navy Union at John Wesley A. NJ
E. Church, Washington, ID. g.,
Sunday, May 29, 1921.
(By John n. Paynter.)

which are marching with iron heel over
the civilization of Europe, have demon
strated with masterful genius ana
efficiency, that neither height nor
depth might suffice to protect the
western world from the vengeance OF
the Hun.
The realization of this fact and the
appalling unreadiness of the nation
were causes for serious concern, yet no
one doubted that America would rise
To the occasion and that the Central
powers would be plentifully whipped.
TO do the thing, however, meant build
ing a vast machine of men, equipment
and supplies in the shortest possible
time.
Every force in the nation was scru-
tinized as regards its availability for
successful use in the impending con-
flict
As in every issue since Emancipa-
ton, the Negro loomed large as fac
! tor in the result to be achieved. Thor
oughly alive to the plausible prospect
of lifting himself out of the bonds OF
prescription through successful par
| ticipation, he heSitated not to agitate
INCREASINGLY for the privilege of shar-
ing to the limit in every phase of the
approaching hardships and burdens
Lack of officers to lead the drafted
millions of IA new army authorized by
| the Congress, presented one OF the
most serious problems and being met
! by the establishment of training
camps, the Negro was unanimously in
sistent in his demand and secured a
chance to prove his ability to COM
mand.
AS is well known, and indeed was
tI,a vi
was encountered. The idea was at
tackled in the Congress, through the
press and from the forum. The bur
den of complaint and opposition was
that it wouldn't do to equip the Negro
and send him forth into the world as
defending American civilization; that
it was Il white mans war and that 1t
would spoil him and that he would
never be the same again.
Thus amid ceaSeleSs travail and lam
entation on the one hand and con-
graduation and confidence on the 9th
er the Des Moines camp for the train
ing of colored officers was established
and at the end of six months an EN-
bryonic new Negro had come forth
with sword and shoulder straps, one
thousand strong.
This number was in no sense pro-
portionate to the great number of Ne
gro troops who were being drafted but
the principle of the equality of partici-
patton for Negroes had been establish
ed and another link forged to strength
en- the racial chain of destiny that cou-
pies Plymouth Rock and jamestown
with Bunker Hill and Gettysburg.
In response to the call to the colors,
our own beloved garrison, General Guy
V. Henry No. 9, was not backward and
her men to the number of twenty-eight
were found fit and ready to fight ana
If need be to die for Flag and Country.
They shared whOle-heartedly as did all
classes of our Negro citizens in the
general impulse to loyal self-sacrifice
and devotion.
The spiritual conservation of them
selves and al they were and hoped to
be to the great American Crusade to
save the liberties of the world, is tes-
timony complete of faith in a Provi-
dence that is Divine and they We're al
so content to follow and to feel that
''In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was
born across the sea,
With glory in His bosom that trans
figured you and me,
AS He died to make men holy, let us
die to make men free,
While God is marching on"
The Negro soldiers of the Civil war,
inheriting the torch of patriotism
which Attucks first held alOft at Bum
ker Hill, have passed the lighted flame
to our younger soldier boys and as
result Chateau Thierry, the Argonne