The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-07-15
EVERY STATE WILL
BE REPRESENTED
BY LEGION MEN ON
VISIT TO FRANCE

]
New York, July l5.-The 250 mem.
bers Of the American Legion, who
will visit France in August and Sep
tember 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 division Will
have representation, says an an
nouncement by the Legion.
A 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 DOher, the for
mer national commander of the Le-
gion, 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, at.
tend 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 ded
ication at F'lirey 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 corRer-store of the new
bridge "Pont Roosevelt" over the
Marine at Chateau Thierry.
President Nillerand, Premier Bri-
and and the marshals of France are
expected to be present at the cere-
monies at Flrey FIrey is familiar
ground 10 the A. E. F. It is situated
in the old Toul sector which the
American troops tooks over in 1917.
The village itself is only 1000 yards
from the old front line Of the sector
other by II American divisions.
Another reception Of note to the
Americans will be the little town 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 in which the continent OF
America received its name. 1t is
the one-time abode OF Waldsee-Mul-
Ter, the Alsatian monk, when he wrote
the letter suggesting that the new
world take the name OF the Italian
navigator, Amerigo Vespucci.
Foch VIII Be AT Home"
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 Pill.
grims at Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse,
Lyon, Metz and Strasbourg At Yer
dun the party Will sleep in the IA
nous citadel.
At Rheims the veterans will attend
the presentation oe the 100000 franc
gift OF the Carnegie foundation to
the city library there. At Blois, ST.
Jeanne D'Arc will be honored. The
Legionnaires will witness the dedi-
cation of a statue to the French hero.
inc 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 expenses
Of the expedition viii be borne by
the delegates themselves or by the
Legion organization.
Mr.. DOher says that the proposal
for the visit has been received with
such enthusiasm by the American
veterans as to constitute q striking
and spontaneous tribute to France
as 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
viii tend 10 knit more closely mu-
tual understanding. among veterans,
not only Of France and the United
States, but OF all allied countries, "
he said. Tt shows that in the hearts
OF Americans who wore the uniform
there surely dwells an abiding affec-
ton for France and the poilu. 1t is
noteworthy that many applications
/ aor,a from, yrav who d4d NOT for