Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-02-02
WANT BETTER
ARMiSTICE DAY
MEMBERS OF BURNS POST
FEEL DAY IN 1921
WAS MOCKERY

ried, was in Wausau "a mockery,'
Burns Post, No. 1888, Veterans Of For
eign Wars, asks that the citizens OF
Wausau cooperate in making Armis-
tice day this year one of serious
reflection and appreciation of those
who went over yonder' and a day
of rejoicing for the great attachments
achieved"
Following is a communication from
the Veterans of Foreign Wars, signed
by S. Knox Kreutzer, post command
er, and Pat. Burns, post adputant,
which The Pilot is glad to publish:
Editor Wausau Pilot,
"Weusau, Wis.
Dear Sir:
I'VE would appreciate your publish
ing the communication below in your
columns, and thank you in advance
for this courtesy.
BURNS Post No. 1888, Veterans of
Foreign Wars, at its last meeting. on
Tuesday, January Gath, unanimously
passed a resolution putting the Post
publicly on record as most emphati-
calJy in favor of keeping and celebrat-
ing Armistice day in manner worthy
and fitting to that occasion. The
post, moreover, authorized that such
action be taken by the post command
err and the post, as may be necessa-
ny and dignified to carry out this
ideal.
Ask Support
1--WE are therefore, taking this means
of placing the matter before the pub
lie and of asking their support in
their whole-hearted, sincere way. We
do not wish to make this request of
the public because we are soldiers or
served in the Great War. We ask
that the whole of Armistice day be
properly and fittingly celebrated, not
because of us or to rete us, but for
the magnificent things 1t stands for
and will increasingly stand for in the
hearts of all the citizens We feel
all too deeply that Armistice day,
1921, when the Unknown Soldier was
buried, was in Wausau mockery.
The national congress had made that
particular day a holiday through the
land, the governors of the states and
other authorities had proclaimed II
as such and had asked the citizens to
observe ii as such. II was a particu-
larry sacred day. for the burial of the
Unknown Soldier at Washington typi-
fed the sacrifice made by the thous-
ands of the American boys who gave
their lives. IL was to- have been a
day given over to the serious refiec-
ton and appreciation of those who
went over yonder". apd day of re-
joicing for the great attainments
achieved.
An Ordinary Day
what happened here In Wausau?
"a ~ ha ha ,l,r
lie offices, and few others, the day
passed as any ordinary day would.
At eleven o'clock all citizens observed
the silent five minutes" In the even
ing the Talbot Montgomery Post OF
the American Legion celebrated In a
splendid and fitting manner with the
help of some of the civic and ftatern-
al organizations who tur,.ed nut IN
a hearty accord. The dance that COM
pleted the day. given by Burns Post,
Veterans of Foreign Wars, was more
than generously pa,roniZed, But the
main part of the day was aimo II com
pletely neglected The stores general-
ly remained open, the factories kept
on running, offices ran on as usual
With the exception of the five min tie
period mt noon the day ran on with
out thing to mark 1t aside as one
of the greatest days in the history
of our country and of the world In
practically all other cities in the
country business houses were closed
and the day was made real holiday.
II was unfair TO the soldiers but much
more than that, IL seems to most Of
the soldiers, IL was not the correct
and patriotic way to celebrate that
I'M nj
Fourth of July set aside to memorial
lie the greatest day of our National
history, the birth of our nation. We
have May 30th TO celebrate the unfit
cation and reuniting of our country
for new and splendid future. We
have November 18th TO revere as the
day, when through sacrifice, our ideals
OF the brotherhood of man triumphed
over despotism and greed. The great
est force we have ever gathered to-
gether made the fight. We won and
that day is magnificent holiday, ma
tional and international.
Public Concern
AS soldiers we hesitate to be the
hrst ones 10 bring this subject up,
for we feel that II should come from
others. II is not Burns Post matter
alone. in any sense whatever. IL is
public concern entirely. However,
eng essentially patriotic orgariza-
ton, organized 10 uphold and pro-
tect the institutions and ideals of Am
erica, we feel that we are not out
OF place in taking the stand and ac-
ton that we have. We ask for the
earnest cooperation OF all citizens, OF
all loyal organizations, OF all true and
patriotic fraternities, OF the civic
bodies, and OF all those in authority.
Thinging this matter over, we feel
sure that all the above will agree
with us. This accomplished, Novem-
Der 18th will come into its own, 10 be
treated justly and fittingly as II more
than deserves to be-
I'VE trust that the contents of this
letter Will touch a responsive chord
in the hearts of our fellow citizens
and that November IL, 1922, and for
the years to come. will be held as a
sacred and joyous holiday, celebrated
IN mannar xUnrshflx, Rtsfur a.