The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-11-15
CITY OBSERVES
ARMISTICE DAY
Hundreds Pack Orphenm
Theatre Where Services
Are Held.
Villas WHALEY SPEAKS
State Commander of American
Legion Makes the Address
of the Day.

The gavel in the hand of Jessel S.
Whyte, commander of the Kenosha
Post of the American Legion, fell at
II o'clock yesterday and a fifth year,
since the guns of the World War
were silenced by the armistice agree
ment, was history.
1t was then that more than 1000
persons who had gathered at the
Orpheum theatre, arose and silently
prayed that the lessons, written in
the blood of the thirty-seven millions
who died in the struggle, might not be
forgotten.
Villas H. Whaley, Wisconsin COM
mander of the legion, was the speak
er of the day. "When patriotism
wanes, the nation dies" he said.
"Back in history there are figures who
stand out in bold relief. If we ac-
cord Washington the first place, as
the founder of the nation, then must
come Abraham Lincoln. as the pre-
server of the Union.
Lincoln Legion's Patron.
at is the spirit of Lincoln which
we of the American Legion should
take as our guide, for it was he who
first pied that those who carry on
should keep faith with those who
made the supreme sacrifice.
"Lincoln, born in the hills of Ken
lucky, moved when boy to Illinois
where he took up the work of rail
splitting with his father. Little did
he dream in those days that the time
would come when he would be called
to become commander-in-chief of the
Army and Navy and preserve, the I'M
ion through civil war that tore at it's
very vitals.
"When he was called to take up the
work of leading the nation he gath
cred home folks around him and told
them that if he lived he would again
return and take his law practice
where he was laying it down. 1t
seems that he had premonition that
he would never come back.
Veterans of 81 Present.
"I speak of lincoln because l zee
down in front here some of the vet
Grams of that Civil War who, when
Lincoln called for volunteers, answer
ed, -"We are coming, Father Abra
ham-6O0,0OO strong"
"Then again in '98 there came the
call to free an oppressed people, and
again the manhood of the nation mob
ly responded. In 1917 there came still
another call, and once more the young
men leaped to the service fthe flag.
Those days don't seem so far back
to some of US, until we stop to think
y
in the schools of the nation.
"Then came the year 1918, when
the American army, unleashed. was
writing the history of the Marine, the
Muse and the Argonne into Arper;can
annals in deeds of valor. Little need
is there for me here to recount for
you the deeds Of courage, and the acts
of patriotism which they performed
there, for you know them well. His
tory with it's prospective will accord
them their just deserts.
The "Silent" Army.
at was just five years ago that the,
curtain fell on that drama. The army
started home across the sea. But
there were some who had made the
supreme sacrifice and had been
mustered into that great silent army
which lay where it had fallen.
To-day the curtain arises on still
another army, an army of sightiess,
manned men, and men whose minds
have gone out though thelr bodies
still live. 1t is this army which the
American Legion is now fighting for.
An army Of men, who, in many cases,
have failed to find the proper support
from the agencies of government
upon which they had "a right 70 rely
for aid. This is the local work of
you. Kenosha post.
>Vets-Nations Back Bone.
at seems fitting to hken the vet
Grams of the three wars to the seas
ons of spring, summer, and winter.
The Grand Army men, upon whom the
SHOWS Of winter have fallen, the Span
ish War veterans as the men whose
faces are famed with the winds of
get behind those boys, stand back of
in France are still in youthful vigor
and strength of the spring of life.
1t is the last group upon which the
nation is relying for backbone and
strength.
"When we joined the conflict we
took an oath to keep faith with those
who died, and that oath today still
binds US. Today it is your duty to
get behind those boys stand back of
the commander Of the post of the
American Legion here and thereby
fulfill that pledge to keep faith with
those who made the great sacrifice"
Whyte Welcomes Audience.
Jessel Whyte, commander of the
Kenosha post of the Legion, welcomed
the audience at is pleasure to
welcome you folks here today" he
said. 81 am especially pleased to see
the G. A. r. men and the boy and
girl scouts.
"This day differs from Memorial
Day, in that it commentaries the end
ing of a great struggle. 1t is a day
of rejoicing. Five years ago at one
minute of eleven, there were four or
five millions of soldiers in the trench
es of France-soldiers one minute and
the next, veterans.
During those trying days there
wasn't man in the forces who would
MT risk his life to aid fallen buddy
And it was to keep bright this spirit
e 4bo b,1ddia,