The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-12
Congress Gives
 Medal To Verdun In Name Of U. s.

Verdun June 12.-The first and only medal ever given by the United States government to any community in the world has taken its place among the Verdun. It was presented recently by Ambassador Myron T. HerricR 'in the name of the Congress and the People of the United States" to the municipality of Verdun "as a mark of Americas appreciation of the valor of it's defenders"
 Ut is the whole of the United States which pays this honor," the Ambassa- dor said in his speech of presentation Tt is our supreme authority, our Con gress and our President, and with them our people. One feels in th1s tribute, representing the sentiment ot more than 100,000,000 human beings, something fundamental, massive Their homage comes from the Pacific coast and the Sierras, from the Alp palachians and the Eastern seaboard, from our Northern border, from our Mexican boundary, and from the plains and valleys between, sweeping. like tidal wade, across the ocean to Verdun.''
 The fame of Verdun and the glory of its defenders dates from February 21, 1916, when the German High Com mand began it's colossal battle to crush the city, annihilate the French right wing, and win an immense miIi- tary and moral victory which, had it been successful, might have meant a different ending to the war
 But the defenders proved to be in vincible. In the Autumn of 1918, more than two years after the gigantic struggle began, the gallant army of Verdun stacked it's arms with the knowledge that Imperial Germany had witnessed the crushing of it's su- preme hope.
 The Germans. with seven army corps concentrated around Verdun, also had l I railroads at their disposal and more than 5000 pieces of artil- lery of all calibres. The French, with a river in their rear, had one rail- road, which was under enemy fire. By sacrificing men and material on a lavish scale, the Germans counted upon rapidly overcoming all obstacles, smashing the defenders resistance un- der a deluge of 17-inch shells, and taking the city within few days.
 Their failure to foresee the tena- cious French resistance was proved a year after the battle began, when 1t was learned that the Germans had employed S2 divisions in Il months against the city, which still remained in the hands of it's defenders. Begin ming in August, 1916, Germany in consequence of the French-British Of fensive in the Somme, gradually aban- doned 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 Mouse in November, 1918.
 Building his speech upon this mag nif1cent defense, Ambassador Herrick said that "Verdun and Valor are for ever one and inseparable.'' Here blazed the spirit of France" he con tinued. 'The valor was the Valor of France. General Petain had spoken for France. They shall not pass"
 And so this medal, which I give to this il1ustrious city, hallowed by sacrifices and courage of all France, is a tribute from the whole United States to all of France.
 If the United States had seen this same French sacrifice and courage devoted to selfish unworthy cause" he added, this tribute would not be offered today. It was because the horrors of this fight and glory of this victory meant safety and liberty for France; it is because France fought here, not the aggressor, but the champion of peace and righteousness that we of the United States feel, and take joy in expressing, our unstinted admiration
 Yet, he said, one who had read Verdun'S epic story could withhold admiration for the tremendous power of the German attack, and for the dogged pertinacity and courage of the German soldiers.
 But medal will ever be struck by the United States in enumeration of German valor at Verdun,' he de- clared, "because of our deep and abid- ing conviction that the German valor and sacrifice were, poisoned by the purpose to which they were devoted"
 Referring to the comradeship in arms "sealed in the blood of our brav- est and best,' Ambassador Herrick said that it would not evaporate in the heat of the first casual disagree ment.
 'fIt is no unsubstantiaI, ephemerial relationship, as 1t rests upon funda- mental ties which have lasted more than a century. The tides of senti- ment will rise and they will fall, but the underlying affection will remain and it will prevail"