The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-05-30
American Legion Overseas l.
Decorating Graves of Those
Buried in Foreign Soil
DAY BEING GENERALLY.
OBSERVED IN AMERICA
Commander MacNider of lie.
gion Sends Message to All
Posts Here and Abroad
(By United Press)

Indianapolis, Ind, May 30-While
the home-folks today are honorine
the soldier dead who rest in the
soil of their country, the American
Legion overseas is visiting and dec.
rating more! than $4,000 graves OF
Americans. who fell and are buried
in foreign soil.
ss0f these graves 81, 400 are located
in five cemeteries in France, 488 are
in England, 140 in SEQ tland, 40 in
Ireland and one in Spain.
Several thousands Of dollars have
been sent to the Legion's committee
in Paris,. of which Cabot Ward. an
American attorney, is chairman, to
be expended on flowers ana flags
for the decoration Of A. E. F., graves
Local committees in England, Scot
land and Ireland and several in
France will visit the cemeteries and
minister personally to each grave.
Many parents of American soldiers
killed and buried overseas have re-
quested decoration of their graves
with particular kinds of flowers OF
with individual floral arrangements
Most of them have: requested the
LegioI> to supply them with photo
graphs of the graves so decorated
and the request is being complied
with. For the larger part, however
the overseas graves will be decorated
alike the highest officer and the
newest private soldier being honoured
by an American Flag and decorations
consisting of flowers native to the
country in which the grave is loca-
ted.
Reports to Legion headquarters
here also show that Memorial Day
is being generally observed today
both in the North and South. In years
previous to the world war, states OF
the old Confederacy observed differ
ent dates for the decoration of graves
of Civil war dead than those obser.
we'd in the North.
The Legion, however, composed OF
both Northern and Southern soldiers
who fought in a common uniform
under common flag, has adopted
May 80 as its official Memorial Day
and gradually the date is being adopt.
ed in all Southern states as well
as those Of the North, East and
West.
Each year, too, the decoration OF
Civil War graves is being, assumed
by the World War men sacred her
itage, with the increasingly rapid
passing on Of the older veterans.
Commander MacNider's Memorial
Day message to the Legion. member
ship, being read today in the ,organi'
zation's 1900 posts in the United
States and % foreign countries, fol-
lows:
Each Memorial Day through the
past years we have watched the col
umn of gallant men pass by-proudly
bearing their battle flags, flies swirl:
ing, drums rolling-through the
streets of the old town. A quive,
has run up our backs, we've stepped
a little brisker, our chests out BIT
further even though our eyes dim
med for a minute after they hac
passed. These men marching rev
erently, proudly to do honor to thei,
fallen comrades, have reminded us
that we had many things to be proue
of and grateful ;forr--that we were
citizens of the United States Of
American and that these men hat
handed down to:ps: free nation. ~:
"To US, fellow Legionaires, this
glorious day is4a direct inheritance
not only as Americans, but as veter'
ans of a war fought VIGOROUSLY fol
a righteous cause and better world
each man and woman whom we
honor on this day won the war fo,
us-their part may have been small
and unsung, but to all of them equa
honor is due. They gave their all
And as we line up with our post
in our old regimentals-the proudes1
raiment any American can ever wear
the uniform of our country-thini
of those Buddies who did not come
back, of theih mothers and father:
who are watching you, grateful fol
this little tribute to their boys"