Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-05-21
Memorial Day overseas

HlGIupIldl "a
WASHINGTON, May Clio n
Memorial Day the eight permanent
American military cemeteries IN
France. England and Belgium will
be formally dedicated, and the 49,
900 OF this nations heroic dead who
sleep on foreign soil will be more
more impressively than ever before.
American Legion posts in Paris,
London and other European points
will cooperate with the Government
of the United States, and with for
eign officials, in making the cere-
| monies memorable, and the Ameri-
can Overseas Memorial Association
in Paris, of which the American
Ambassador, Myron T. Herrick, is
honorary president, is lending its as
s~istance toward making the day not
able in every respect.
In France there is the Aisne-
Marine Cemetery at Belleau, where
lie the Americans who fought and
died in Belleau Wood and at Chat
eau-Thierry; the one at Thiaucourt,
where lie those who took part in the
st. Mihiel defensive; that at Ro-
mango that guards all that was
earthly of those who helped break
the German lines in the Argonne;
the one at Bony on the Aisne, where
nearly 1000 of the 9th Division are
buried, and those at Suresnes and
Fere-et-Tardenois.
In Belgium, there are graves of
those who fought the good Fight IN
Flanders, the military cemetery be-
ing at Waereghem, While at Brook
wood, in Surrey, England, lie sonle
500 Americans who died in trans
port sinkinGs or in hospitals.
This Silent army which will repre-
sent America in p~erpetuity" viii never
be forgotten and the Federal govern
Iment will see to it that the graves are
cared for and that the regulation
memorial service and r.ces are OBJ
served each year. However. the Am
erican Legion has undertaken to see
that there shall be a more personal
and intimate connection EetWec1 this
country and the Amy "nlCu still
represents il on eight fields OF honor
in Europe, and to this end is raising
a fund from the income of which the
| expense will be betrayed of an es-
pecial Memorial Day observance
this year and on every Memorial
Day in the future.
At least one hundred thousand dol
lars, and possibly twice that amount,
will be raised in small contributions
for this fund, which is called the
American Legion's Overseas Graves
| Endowment Fund. Every post of the
Legion throughout the country will
lset aside a Gay of the week preced-
ing Memorial Day, on May 3Oth, to
be known as Poppy Day." when
small peoples will be sold at ten
cents each to everybody willing to
buy. The hundreds Of thousands OF
dimes so collected will be devoted
TO the endowment, and the various
posts are also making levies on
their membership for small sums.
National Commanders Appeal
at is the high honor of the Amer
lean Legion" says Alvin Owsley, the
! National Commander, ito represent
the American people in the fulfill
ment of the sacred obligation of de-
corating the graves Of our soldiers
abroad on each Memorial Day. The
Legion pledges itself always to re
member and honor u dead on for
eign soil on this day when the hear
of all America is thrilling with rever'
ence for them, Let us all-eVer!
~Legionnaire, every post-contr1but'
this year TO the Graves men
Fund, which will insure that eacf
year u respect and honor shall bt
httingly bestowed upon those whit
sleep in perpuity in the cemeteries
of Europe"
One of the first contributors to thu
Endowment was former Presiden'
Woodrow Wilson, whom the Amer
lean Legion Weekly describes al
Americas most distinguished dis
abled veteran" while the first cam'
from Chief Paduke Post of Paducah
Kentucky, which also sent word tina
it would contribute an additions
sum later, and the National Pres
lClub Post of Washington has mad
one of the largest contributions.
Theodore E.. Damn, Commands
of Advertising Mems Post OF New
York City, one Of the largest anC
most influential posts in the metro
politan district, notified Commando
Owsley that his post would immed
lately get in touch with the New
York departments and offer its spec
ial facilities to insure that New Yori
would raise more than any quoti
that could possibly be assigned to it
Large Gifts Not Wanted
1t would be comparatively cas-,
for US TO raise 500 1000, or evei
lsexAEal times that ennos by going =