New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
Legion Urges
Posts Decorate
Graves Abroad
National Fund To Be Used on
Memorial Day; Commit
tees to Act in Each Coun-
try in Which Men Fought

National headquarters, in a bulletin
every post to share on Memorial Day
in the decoration of graves Of men
WHO made the supreme sacrifice in
France, England Italy and Russia.
ing to Lemuel Boles, the national ad-
jutant, by national fund contributed
by the Legionnaires all over the coun-
try.
In cases where special grave is to
be cared for provision has been made
to furnish the national organiza ion
with the necessary data and a commit
tee will see that the plan is carried
through.
BU!letin of Instructions
The bulletin reads:
Memorial Day is approaching, the
day sacred to those VINO oled that
America might live. 1t is the honor
and privilege of the American Legion
to decorate on this day the graves Of
our comrades who fell on foreign soil.
While thousands of communities
throughout the country are honoring
the soldier dead in their midst, the dis
tant graves in France and England,
Italy and Russia are the Legon's pc
culiar care. For the last two years II
has been the custom of national head
quarters to collect fund from our
members for this purpose and the re-
sponge has shown that The policy is
popular.
"Committees are established for the
purpose in France and Great Britain
composed largely of Legion men, acting
III conjunction with similar bodies of
officials and citizens of the respective
foreign countries; and posts in all Eu-
ropean countries, cooperating with
. these committees, will see that the
grave of every American who persisted
overseas is appropriately decorated.
"The national commander feels it a
particularly solemn obligation that the
membership of the American Legion
continue this high policy, and he there
fore issues a call to al Legion mem
bers through department and post or
ganiza aions TO give their moral and
financial support to the decoration of
these holy acres Of American soil over
seas.
"lt is requested that each depart
ment raise from the members of the
American Legion in that department
sum equal to five cents per member
in good standing on December 81 1921;
that no post contribute less than $5;
that checks be made payable to the
national teasurer, The American Legion;
that checks be forwarded to the ma
tcnal treasurer, The American Legion.
Indianapolis, to reach him not later
than May 10, 1929; that letters of
transmittal state that check inclosed
is for the fund for the decoration of
graves overseas
Send Funds Through Departments
"Departments and posts arc request
ed to send all checks and monev
through their respective department
headquarters. 1t is essential that de-
partments receive credit for all funds
contributed from their membership.
There arc many in America who
cherish some grave overseas and can
not place their tribute on it in person.
The Legion is glad to offer it's assist
ancc to these, and funds received for
this purpose will receive especial at
tention. They should be sent to nation
al headquarters direct. All available
data as to the location of such par
ticular graves should be transmitted
with the donations, which must reach
national headquarters not later than
May lO. IneSe data nave been distrib-
utcd to the next kin by the Graves
Registration Bureau.
"lt is entirely up to the departments
how they raise their quota for the
Legion fund; but Commander Mac
Nider wishes to emphasize that it is
particularly fitting that our members
contribute themselves the amount nee
essary to carry out this tribute to our
fallen comrades. The American Legion
will accept and administer contribu.
tions from the public, but this should
not reduce the amount donated by
Legonnaires. We have an individual
obligation to our dead