The New York herald., 1921-10-31
ABINGDON SQUARE
H0NORS WAR DEAD
Figure of Doughboy Unveiled
as Memorial to Neighbor-
hood Boys Who Fell.

The Abingdon Square neighborhood.
over in the western rim Of Greenwich
Village, honored its hero dead of the
great war yesterday with the unveiling
of a memorial.
All of that portion Of Greenwich VII
iage which was before art and bobbed
hair invaded was present. and 10000
more from the labyrinthine reaches OF
the lower West Side. A dozen bands
and the Police Glee Club furnished
music. All the American Legion posts
Of the neighborhood, the Ninth Regiment,
Getachments from the Sixty-ninth and
the Fifteenth regiments, a hundred
French veterans and scores of organiza-
tions of that part Of the city took part
In the parade and ceremonies.
The memorials stirring figure OF a
doughboy defending his flag-was pre-
sented by former Gov. Alfred e. Smith
and was accepted In behalf of the city
by Mayor Hylan.
Two hundred gold star mothers whose
sons were being honored looked on while
a little girl and three boys. represent
ing the several arms OF the service,
pulled the cords releasing the folds of
an American flag from the sculpture.
They were Helen Culkin, representing
a Red Cross nurse; James ]. Riordan,
as a soldier; Stephen p. Roberts, as a
sailor and James p. Geagan, Jr.. dressed
as marine.
William w. Cohen presided. and the
invocation was pronounced by the Rev.
Frank w. Lawson, chaplain Of the 305th
Machine Gun Battalion, Seventy-seventh
Division. After the dedication and songs
by children's choruses, Father Francis
p. Duffy, chaplain of the 165th Regi-
ment, delivered an address and bene-
diction was said by the Rt. Rev. Mgr.
Joseph +. Smith. Taps was sounded
and a salute from a firing squad closed
the ceremonies.
John R. Voorhis, Greenwich Villages
oldest citizen. covered the route of the
parade from Twenty eighth street down
Eighth avenue to the square, despite his
ninety-two years. Henry II. Curran,
President of the Borough of Manhattan
marched with his Legion post
Gov. Smith. in presenting the monu-
ment said that nothing gives greater
hope of the ultimate success of demo-
cratic Government than similar gath
erings honoring their neighborhood he
roes. He pictured the commons and
greens of the country dotted with sim
liar tokens of American gratitude for
the patriotic service and loyal devotion
of the soldiers. He closed with a trib-
ute to the mothers of the dead
The memorial idea was fathered by
Charles w. Cull<in, Democratic leader
OF that (the Third) Assembly district
and was carried to success through the
efforts of committee with James p.
Geagan as chairman; Joseph p. Boyle.
secretary, and Richard Delaney treas
urer.
The memorial. which stands In the
center of the little park at the intersec-
ton of Eighth avenue and Hudson
street perpetuating the name OF the
fourth Earl of Abingdon, ardent sup
porter of the cause OF the colonists,
consists of a heroic figure in bronze
surmounting a massive pedestal of
Maine granite. The figure is the con-
ception and execution OF Philip Mar
tiny, pupil of St Gaudens. whose most
popular work was the allied group
which thrilled millions in front of the
Flatiron building during the war. At
the base of the bronze Is a receptacle
containing the names of all the service
men of the neighborhood, list Of sub
scribers to the memorial fund and a
record of the dedication exercises.