Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-11-11
MONUMENT TO
COUNTY'S HEROES
OF WAR JNVE;IIII. Ed Ed
.IMPRESSV VELY
Thousands Pay Homage TO Men
Who Offered Or Gave
Lives For Freedom
z GOLD STAR MOTHERS
ON SPEAKERS PLATFORM
Judge Coxart, Of ColunbJ,, In
Pleasing Address, Says Uni
yersaI Peace Is Dream

/ Sumter county today paid debt
of love and gratitude to her lads who
served and some who died, in the
great World War. Grouped about
an imposing statue, symbol Of The
| Spirit of the American Doughboy."
thousands of Sumter citizens, both
white and colored, paid homage to
their heroes simultaneously with the
ceremonies at Washington honorlng
Americas Unknown Dead
The occasion was the unveilng and
dedication of the monument, beau-
tiful memorial designed by an Amer-
Gus man. and paid for by contnht,-s
tions from Sumter county people.
The ceremonies were splendidly inn
pressive--an outpouring of the
hearts of grateful public and loving
people. There was not marring
circumstance, but every detail Of the
program was carried out to perfec-
ton, The speakers were fervid and
impressive, the attention of the
throng was perfect, the interest of
| the hundreds of school children from
all over the county was splendid.
| Major Fort In Charge
! The master of ceremonies was Ma
4jor James Fort Of Americus, state
commander Of the American Legion.
He delivered the speech Of presenta-
| tion of the monument on behalf of
its donors to Col w. r. Lane, who
accepted it in. an eloquent brief adj
dress on behalf of the people of Sum-
ter county. At the conclusion Of
Col. Lanes speech the clock in the
courthouse tower ehimed / and the
great assemblage, at the sound Of the
bugle bowed in two minutes of silent
prayer in common with the remainder
of the nation at that hour Major
Fort then introduced Judge A, w.
! Cozart, Of Columbus, who delivered
the principal oraton.
/ Judge Cozart was entertaining
! yet sincere in his speech. He pointed
out that the lesson Of the great war
was the necessity Of this country
maintaining an efficient, though not
too large standing army for protec-
| tion at all times. He declared tho
prospects Of universal peace to be
dream, because Of the vast millions
Of illiterate people in the world,
who are easy prey to agitators.
Seven Gold Star Mothers
The speaking took place from 4
large Platform placed directly il
front Of the Williams Niles hardware
storm formed Of two large trucks,
draped In flags Seated on ii were
the speakers. Mrs. Lawson Staplaton,
general chairman Of the arrange
mentsc for the occasion, and other
members Of the committee, veterans
Of the COS and Sons Of Veterans,
and seven Sumter county gold star
mothers These women occupied
seats together on the front row near
/ est the monument erected in a large
measure to the memory of their boys.
They were Mrs. f. D. Law, mother
of Nottingham Law; Mrs. w, M. Rat
ley, mother of Roy Ratley; Mrs. II, H.
Bridges, mother of Jesse Bridges,
Mrs. Sam Williamson, mother Of
Wyatt Chapman; Mrs. E. T. Mathis,
mother of John d. Mathis; Mrs. +.
B. Lott, mother Of Wade Lott, and
Mrs Ida G. Statham, mother of Cor
don Statham, all of whom gave their
lives in the great war.
The occasion was mingling of all
interests, all people The former
service men were there, but as pri-
vate citizens. The only persons OBJ
served in uniform were the soldier
and sailor who drew the cords that
loosed the folds of the American flag
that had obscured the statue as the
ceremonies began and during the
whole of the exercises and speaking
stood at attention, their guns in arm,
facing each other on opposite sides
of the monument. These men were
w c. Brophy, of Rhine, Ga, now.
student at the Third District Agricul-
tural school, VINO was a soldier in the
157th Infantry, 40th division, and H. H
d. Stevens, of Americus, son of Dan
Stevens, who wore the sailors uni
form in the naval transport SERVICE.
and wears two years service ssripes
on his sleeve,
School Children. Arrive.
The streets surrounding the statue
had ben roped off to prevent vehisu-
lar traffic and as the crowds of CHI
zens gathered about the monument -
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