Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-05-31
LEGION ORATOR
THRILLS THRONC
IN SPEECH HERE
First Head Of Georgia
Division Stirs Memoir
ial Audience

vigorous addresses delivered IN Am
ericus in many days was heard Mon
day night at the Carnegie library au-
ditcrium by gathering of Americas
citizens assembled to do honor to the
memory of the heroes who fell in
the great war, the occasion being
Legion Memorial Day. The speaker
was Basil Stockbridge, young At
lanta attorney, first commander of
the Georgia division of the Ameri-
can Legion, and resident of Ameri-
Gus some "a years ago when he was
a small boy. His address was thrill
ingly impressive in every respect and
was heartily applauded, particularly
at the close when the applause con-
tinued for some time in expression
of the chord of. appreciation he had
struck. Lofty in ideals, full of high
patriotism, breathing spirit of ag-
gressiveness of thought and action on
the part of the Legion for ideals
and movements worth while, his
words were listened to intently.
OF particular interest was his de-
fense of the Legion against the
charges that it had entered politics
in Georgia in last summers heated
\ campaign. He asserted that the
Legion had been attacked at that
time and was merely defending itself
He declared the organization would
never oppose or help a man in po-
litical fight because of his political
affiliations or principles. No names
were mentioned in this reference to
Georgia, and his words were recciv-
ed without expression by the audi
ence.
Mr.. Stockbridge was introduced by
Stepehn Pace, in a brief statement,
Mr.. Pace took occasion to call atten-
tion to the fact that although the
war has been over two and half
years, Sumter county has yet to
recognize the service Of her sons.
Sumter's Short Coming.
az hope from this meeting will
arise a realization that we have not
yet erected a permanent memorial
to those who served and gave their
ALL" said he. 81 know this IS an in
appropriate season to start any kind
Of movement, but | hope that we
NAV begin now and consummate rhe
plans at a later season"
Occupying the platform with the
speaker and Mr. Pace were IA num-
Der of prominent men and women
of the community, representing
various civic and patriotic organiza-
tions, among them Gen. Joe Day
Stewart, commander of the Western
Brigade, y. C. ", and Capt. II. d.
Watts. commander of the local camp,
Confederate Veterans. In the rud:-
ence a half dozen veterans OF the
grey were seated together, ana IL
another section were a number OF
members of the American Legion,
each wearing the red poppy. Boy
Scouts acted as ushers.
Because of the absence of a piano
the proposed NJ ,ical program was
dispensed with liss Ella Polk led
the audience in singing america"
and The Star Spangled Banner"
Rev. J. B. Lawrence led in patriot
ic invocation and Rev. Frank P. An
derson, local Legion post commander,
pronounced the prayer of benedlction.
Early in the services the audience
stood in silent reverence one minute
for the departed service men, at the
end of which taps were blown,
The auditorium was prettily dec
grated for the occasion with Amerl-
can and Legion flags, with huge red
poppies placed here and these. the
handiwork of Mr.. and Mrs. Henry
Stanfield, donated to the Legion
Post.
Mr.. Stockbridge began speaking as
$3.50 and continued for nearly an
hour.
MIR Stockbridge's Address.
Mr.. Stockbridge's address prac-
ticallv in full follows:
"We are summoned here tonight
n
to pay homage to our he dead.
We renew our allegiance to our
country for which they died.
''This is National Memorial Day.
To those of US for whom April 26th
has ever spelled day of tribute to
the noblest form of valor this day
has not quite accustomed itself. Yet,
as one country, under one flag, with
fresh and holy ties cementing all
sections in a new and glorious ira
dition. it is a symbol of the times
that we find ourselves in the South
observing the solemn festival which
this day denotes.
"To those who still turn to the
only form of memorial holiday
which we have heretofore observed,
we pledge that these veterans of the
World War who reside South of Ma
son and Dixon so long as one of US
may live, and long after the last of
that gallant grey clad legion has
passed over the river to rest under
the shade of the trees, the heritage
of chivalry which they bequeathed
to us shall always be our most prec-
ious possession. We shall unite with
the Daughters of the Confederacy
and the other memorial organizations
in preserving their memories and
guaranteeing that their deeds shall
be faithfully recorded and correctly
taught to future generations of
Southerners. April 26th shall all
ways be day among days to us,
and we detract naught from the lus-
tire of that day in the observance
of this.
National Memorial Day has been
set aside not only to commemorate