Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-03
CAPITAL CITY CITIZENS TO
ORGANIZE FOR THE ERECTION
OF A WORLD WAR MEMORIAL

shall be an auditorium and rooms for
the patriotic and veteran organiza-
tions.
Whatever form the project event.
ually takes it is the intention of its
sponsors to enlist the support Of
every resident of the city, and the
pennies of the school children will be
as acceptable as the dollars Of the
business men and women.
The report of the Rotary commit
tee is most interesting and is an eX-
preston of the sentiment which pre-
walls on every hand in the matter of
q World War memorial, and is as fol-
lows:
Report to Rotary Club on the Matter
Of a. Memorial to War Veterans
In a letter dated January %. adj
dressed to Albert w. Brooks, Willis
E. Swift and Francis B. Purinton,
President Paul Sargent stated he
had appointed these members a COM
mittee to have general charge of
the matter of securing a suitable
memorial to the war veterans. He
further stated that this appoint
ment follows q discussion by the dir
ectors, of the feasibility of attempt
ing such a movement at this time; he
suggested that the committee make
a preliminary survey, and. as early
as may be. present the matter to the
Club for its approval or otherwise.
The committee as appointed pro-
cecded to organize: 1t had several
meetings in conjunction with the
Directors; and it has been decided,
as q first step. to present the matter
to the Club for its support: in the
hope. as expressed by the president.
that the Club. will back the thing
up"
The committee finds that in the
Clubs program for civic service, the
idea of a memorial to Augusta boys
has been included for several years
Not only has this project been con-
sidered by the Directors. but the
matter has also been approached-in
one or two cases at least-by other
organizations or individuals: the fact
that the idea has not. up to this
time. become crystallized, is due to
several causes; primarily, perhaps
to the heavy expenditure attendant
upon carrying out any of the pro-
jectS mentioned.
You will. possibly. bear with your
committee if it should recall to your
minds an incident which occurred
several years ago. and which is
again deserving of passing attention.
at least. The incident was typical
of others occurring throughout the
country ut that time: but' We have
not the art to portray it in the lam
guage in which it was told by one
of our esteemed fellow citizens. 1t
was, however. something like this:
The street was filled with troopers
marching to entrain. The band was
IL so pJ,.
flying: the boys resplendent in their
new khaki. All were smiling; some
were singing Smile the While I
Kiss You Fond Adieu:" or I'VE
Won't Be Back Till It's Over Over
There" or Keep the Home Fires
Burning" The civilians We're lined
up on both sides of the street, wav-
ing and cheering. What is it that
Peter Kyne says: These civilians see
only the avenue with the flags flying;
they have never seen the wreckage.
nor heard the wall of the funeral
march. They're only dreamed of
that, and painted vision which they
call 1.-THE Field of Honor" with
trail across it labelled THE Path of
Glory" They kOnow IT leads to hell.
but they know also that some men
escape. Among these civilians was a
little boy Notwithstanding.
Presently the boy raises his hand
to point and says There's my daddy,
mother" A trooper steps from the
ranks. comes and. dropping on one
knee. takes the boy on the other;
and as he caresses him. perhaps he
says Daddy will be home soon. Be
a good boy and take good care of
mother" He is up and off. absorbed
into the food of youth engaged in
the great crusade.
1t was this incident which inspired