The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-10-27
THE COMBAT VETERANS OF THE A. E. F.

inevitable that out of the great there grow
many societies But there need for that shall
brace the who actually fought Such organiza-
ton the G. A. r. that us of the sacrifices
made the service rendered. In opinion Combat
Veterans nearly fills this need than any of the other
exservice organizations Their code broad, and
their declaration of purpose clear that it commends
itself to every and who desires perpetu-
ate the association of the boys and the memory of the
work done
ROBERT EMMETT LEE President of the Combat Vet
A. E F. in interview recently given forth
the Aims Objects and Purposes the Organization as
follows:
The Combat society has been organized be-
cause of and in response to real and very wide
spread part of the ex-combatants of the
United States forces in the WorRd War That such de-
mand is actual and forcefuy nsisent patent from
perusa of answers to letters of inquiry which our Office
has received from combat veterans in all parts the
country Many of the veterans who oudest
praises of the organization and
under way belong to other veterans organza-
tions dozens of them do not Almost universally
to coast and from border border letters of
comment that have pouring in, have been, put
mildly genuinely commendatory truth most of them
have been sincerely enthusiastic the society
Organization in this country composed exclusively of
service of actual battle experienced" reply
B the Combat Veterans Of bs
Expedtonary Forces, exists today legal entity
BECAUSE after months of careful inquiry the founders
the organization certain that majority of the
combat veterans of the American Epedtonary
the world want such organization -ardenty
sire it, Probably there that gainsay
the right or the privilege.
II Not Just a Scheme
i The Combat Veterans A. f. F. is not merely prob
able likely scheme 1t is not sudden fancy that
may end in failure 1t is not untried venture in Allied
Countries. In France, "The National Union of Com
batants" numerically the largest organization of ex-
service "The National Association Comrades
of Combat runs very good second Ours is an oroaniza
ton, carefully planned for months, and whose
cess. by preliminary canvass of its prospective MEM
bership fact before the
poration filed with the Secretary of State Conserv-
ativey speaking, basing the estimate facts within
knowledge and the opinions of Others
in all walks of life in section of the country
shall have membership of One Hundred Thousand within
six months from today.
4 The organization has its inception in Colorado
because everything has beginning and necessarily it
must begin somewhere The organizers believe that
great and fourishing society we'll have its
mencement in the heart of the country elsewhere
| Purposes of Society
What the purposes of the Combat Veterans, A.
Eff? As set in the articles stripped
of legal Journalism they promote the welfare of
its MEMBERS foster the spirit comradesp existing
among them to strive for full allegiance to the flag and
to help perpetuae its glorious traditions and to
such business necessarily incident the life and
growth of not-for-proft corporation.
AS to the first purpose it is all lodges and
societies of fraternal social 1t needs
ment We intend in every legitimate manner to make
organization of real and lasting benefit its
bers-the by which this be accomplished
almost numberess Most of them are now practiced bv
and known to members of all the big social and fraterna
orders of the United States The statement is general
action of at the time under the will of
idarty of such society, and its potential numerical
strength-here more than million eligible to mem
bershipthe good that it accomplish within it's
ranks is clearly ncalculnbe
Il Spirit Of COmradeship
Secondly propose to foster and encourage the
spirit of camradeship the combat veterans The
spirit there living vibrant real fraternity the
sympathy and understanding that to all
who stripped social distinctions of
class creed education wealth and the of position
stand together in a in the of battla
in the hour of danger amidst the narrowing and
humorous of the trench the battlefield the the
air. There is communion among these veterans to
which society but affords medium of expression
We do create spirit of fraternity in society
We only mobilize it, organize it, it, The bond
of sympathy between these combat veterans unoubte
y than exists between them and other exserce
men, And without in the smallest measure rejecting
the merits of officers who did not happen to
be actually engaged in combat, believe that there is
little in between these and the combat veter
from the standpoint of service Let be explicit
at the risk of being boresome. do not that the
who did not fight is not good American the
served well those who engaged with the enemy
simply that if he did take part in the fray how
unimpeachable his pariotsm his vaor his motives
he has little in from the standpoint of service
with the man who did But duckng G. l. in the
intensely human way, growing the
similar hardshps, laughing at thousand similar
parable incidents of common experience that occurred
under of battle condtionsthese have made kns
men of more than million men-Americas combat
Grams of the World War
| Perpetuate Flags Glory
Finally, it is object strive for full allegiance
to the flag and to help perpetuae its glorious traditions
We do not arrogate to ourselves the custody of the
ton's patriotism nor its honor, and promise to