Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-14
Legion Group
to Visit France in
August, September

to Visit France IN
August, September
New York, July 13-The $50 men,
bers of the American Legion, who
will visit France in August and Sep
TENDER at the invitation of President
Millerand, will represent every Sec
ton 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 divi-
sion will have representation, says
an announcement by the Legion.
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
purpose Of Franklin D'Olier, the
former National Commander of the
Legion who is in charge of the pill
grimage, 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 battlefields.
attend various dedicatory ceremonies
and will be entertained at numerous
receptions.
The party will sail aboard the
steamer George Washington on Aug
ust and will return about the mid
die of September. The principal
events of the visit will be the dedi-
cation at Flirey of a monument to
the American army, which is the
gift of the French municipality and
the people of Lorraine; and the lay
ing Of the cornerstone Of the new
bridge "Pont Roosevelt" over the
Marine at Chateau Thierry.
President Millerand, Premier Bril-
and and the marshals of France are
expected to be present at the cere-
monies at Flirey. Flirey is famil-
lar ground to the A. +. 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 was held at one time or
another by II American divisions.
Another reception of note to the
Americans will be by the little town
Z 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
a.. Of
received it's name. 1t is the one
time abode of Waldsee- Muller, the
Alsatian monk, when he wrote the
letter suggesting that the new world
take the name of the Italian navi-
gator. Amerigo Vespucci
Marshal Foch will be "at home
to the visiting Legionnaires. He
will receive them in the house in
which he was born in the town of
Taubes in the Pyrenees Mountains.
There will be receptions to the
pilgrims at Paris, Bordeaux, Tou-
louise, Lyon, Metz and Strasbourg.
At Nerdun the party will sleep in
the famous citadel.
At Rheims the veterans will attend
the presentation of the 3,OOO,OoO-
franc gift of the Carnegie founda-
ton to the city library there. At
Blois, st. Jeanne Dare will be hon
ored. The Legionnaires will witness
the dedication of a statue to the
French heroine which is the gift OF
the Joan of Arc committee OF New
York.
Under the terms by which the
Legion accepted the hospitality OF
the French government, the eX-
penses of the expedition will be
borne by the delegates themselves
or by the Legion 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 dwells an
abiding affection for France and the
poilu. 1t is noteworthy that many
applications come from men who
did not see foreign service during the
war