Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-05-29
ROBERTS POST PAYS
TRIBUTE TO HERO
Named for Local Soldier Who
Was Brave and Died AZ he
Had Fought.

American Legion, was organized in
July 1890. 10y &. ". Mckinney and l..
Il Webb, ~ this city, with the
membership OF Is. Tho member
ship has since increased TO i35. with
out the aid of membership drives. etc.
MI, Mckinney acted as temporary
chairman of tho post from the time OF
It's organization until the following
September when J. l.. Ecklos was
elected post commander. which office
he held until January I of this year,
when he was succeeded by Harvey
\. Martin. business interests necessi-
,a,ed MIR Martins removal To another
city and on April he WAS succeeded
~ post commander by the present In
cumhent. fsoslie NJ. Roe.
In selecting "a patron. the name or
Lieutenant Laurence Roberts was
,huscn because of the brilliant war
RECORD achieved by him. to which was
added the fact that he had been a
clnssmate and friend of "A great many
~ the members. who felt an especial
pride In that friendship and who de-
sired to perpc,uatc his memory in
hcftting manner. In the consider
care was taken that they should at
all timca he consistent with the sterl-
inr qualities or 1t. Roberts character.
~ an American soldier and "A gentle
man,
The pos, has been hampcred some
what in its activities by the dopres-
sion through which we have passed
aud the fact that II has been in the
formative stage. This period has been
passed and with the advent of better
timca and increased permanent MEM
h.rahip, tho poet will take a larger
place in the affairs of tho community.
Plans are under way and are nearing
completion for u summer camp at
Red Point. Md, on tho Chesapeake
hay. where members may spend week
ends or entire vacations at little cost
Enrly In the present year an aux
Hilary unit. the membership of which
n restricted 60 tho wives mothers
daughters and sisters of legiounaires.
was formed and most effective work
has been accomplished under the
leadership of its president. Mrs. VIII
liam &. Spcakman, through whose
tircsome oncrsy much relief has been
afforded the families OF ex-scrvice men
through times % sickness and unem-
ploymcnt.
\ beautiful national rag was pre-
scented 60 tho post on last Ar1nisticc
Day hy ladies ~ this city who are in
tcrcsted IN the post. This fag was
unfurlcd Ter the hrst time AT the
funeral ~ the unknown hero at Ar
lington, on November II. 1891.
Due Co the terrific conditions which
prevailed At tho time and place Of
II. Roberts death. the location 81 his
grave was unknown 30 our own. the
allied or German governments. and.
a. It, first objective the post resolved
go ondoavor 10 locate the grave of its
patron, Accordingly. an inquiry for
the whereabouts of 1t. Roberts
burial place was published In the
American Legion Weekly. which re-
suited In the receipt of replies from
o. far west as Raymond. Washington.
A letter from the Huntlcy H.. post
gave information as 20 the exact To-
cation 81 the grave, This information
was supplied by George Larsen. who
had served with the Canadian forces
and who had assisted in the burial
cf It. Roberts The information has
been transmitted 20 the government
authorities 10y whom steps ara being
taken Co Identify and properly mark
and take care OF IL Roberts grave in
Cumhrai, near which eity he fon.
Career Of Lieutenant Roberts.
Laurence Roberts. who was a sor
a. Mrs, Il, W. ~. Roberts 1900 North
jackson street was born IN Montreal
,annda. December %. 1895, (Ameri
can, foreign bornD when he wa,
six years old. the family moved q
Cambridge Mass. and he entered IN,
public prhool there, taking the min,
years course IN six years. and gradu
atinE from the Webster grammar
school at the axe g ~ and half
with rank fourth out 81 over 80 pu
pills although through illness. he los
three months of the last years term
The family then moved TO Whining
ton, and he entered the High School
but did not complete the course. leav
ing IN about three years He enlis,e,
IN the Delaware militia on April IL
lpi4, was soon promoted 20 corporal
ana then 90 sergeant. and served witt
that organization on the border dur
inr the Mexican cempAsn.
His enlistment expired on April u
1917. and on the isth % May he .ntere
thc officers Training Camp at For
Meyer Va, Ia the Field Artillery
ittct about slS weeks, he applied 70