Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1922-06-05
AMERICA PRESENTS
MEDAL TO VERDUN
Impressive Ceremonies AS Am
bassador Herrick Makes First
Gift Of the Kind
(By Associated Press)

nrSt and only medal ever given
by the United States government
to any community in the world
has taken its place among the
cherished possessions of the city
of Verdun. 1t was presented to-
day by Ambassador Myron T.
Herrick in the name of the Con-
gress and the People of the Unit
ed States" to the municipality OF
Verdun "as mark of Americas
appreciation of the valor of its
defenders"
st is the whole of the United
the Ambassador said in his speech
of presentation. "It is our su-
preme authority, Our Congress,
and our President, and with them
Our people. One feels in this tri-
butte, representing the sentiment
of more than 100000 human
beings, something fundamental,
massive. Their homage comes
from the Pacific coast and the ST.
erras from the Appalachians and
Eastern seaboard, from our
Northern border, from our Mexi-
can boundary, and from the
plains and valleys between.
sweeping like a tidal wave,
across the ocean to Verdun."
The fame Of Verdun and its de-
tenders dates from February Il.
1916, when the German High
Command began its colossal bat
tie to crush the city, annihilate
the French right wing and win
an immense military and moral
victory which, had it been sue
cessful, might have meant diff
ferent ending to the war.
But the defenders proved to be
invincible In the autumn of
1918, mole than two years after
the gigantic struggle began, the
gallant army of Verdun stacked
its arms with the knowledge that
Imperial Germany had witnessed
the crushing of its supreme
hope.
The Germans, with seven army /
corps scattered around Verdun, !
also had Il railroads at their dis
posal and more than 5000 pieces ,
of artillery of all caiibres. Tie
with a river in the rear,
had one railroad, which was tin
der ene.ny fire. By sacrificing
men and material on a lavish |
scale, the Germans counted upon
rapidly overcoming all obstacles, J
smashing the defenders resist
ance under a deluge of 17-inch |
shells, and taking the city within
a few days.
Their failure to forsee the te-
lacious French resistance was
proved a year after the battle be-
gan, when it was learned that the
Germans had employed 81 divi-
sions in eleven months against !
The city, which still remained inl
The hands of the defenders. Be-
ginning in August, 1916, Ger
many in consequence of the
French-British offensive in the |
Somme, gradually abandoned the :
campaign around Verdun, in
which venture she had sacrificed
the pick of her troops. The city
was finally and definitely cleared
on both banks Of the Meuse in
November, 1918. - $500
Building his speech upon this |
magnificent defense, Ambassador
Herrick said that ''Verdun and
Valor are forever one and insep-
arabic" "FIere blazed the spirit
of France" he continued. "The |
valor was the valor of France !
General Petain had spoken for
France, They shall not pass
"And so this medal, which l
give to this illustrious city, hal
lowed by sacrifices and courage
of all France is tribute from the
while United States to all of
France.
eff the United States had seen
this same French sacrifice and
courage devoted to a selfish, un-
cause" he added, "this
tribute would not be offered to-
day. 1t was because the horrors
of this fight and glory of this vic
tory meant safety and liberty to
France; it is because France
fought here, not as the aggres-
sor, but as the champion of peace
and righteousness that we of the
United States feel, and take joy
in expressing, our unstinted adj
Yet. he said, no one who had
read Verdun's epic story could /
withhold admiration for the tre-
mendous power of the German
attack, and for the dogged perti-
nacity and courage of the Ger
man soldier.
"But no medal will ever be