Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-11-12
WATERv|LLE PEOPLE STAGE
BIG ARMIST|CE DAY OBSERVANCE

Nearly every Organization in the CITY
os represented, the Chamber of
commerce. kiwanis club, Lions club.
tons. AGA oieaniza-
And the militia was out IN t,,,,
regalia, uniforms, guns and 81, an-
purtenances. '"p
And what brought up the rearp
Guess. First in the time If naad
.ast IN the time of demonstration
the fire departments. Yes. mira,
number. the departments of Water
| V'iie, Winslow and Fairfield.
And then the grand review at
monument Park. The vanguard of
tne parade here halted. while the
rear columns filed past, and then
tne Legion boys and allied bodies
marched down Temple street. into
MAIN, turned the corner at Silver
ana .on to the Legion hall for din
ner. And the Ladies' Auxiliary did
certainly provide a princely repast
Tor the boys. Everything was there
mat a whimsical appetite might de-
sire, and lot of other things be-
sides. William Tudor Gardiner was
the principal speaker at the conclu.
sion OF the banquet, holding the at
tentlon or his auditors in spirited
ADDRESS which won the immediate
appreciation Of all present.
among the many important state
ments which went to make up his
speech, the following seemed to
stand out particularly clear:
Eight years ago the American
Legion was an organization that had
Just completed the greatest task
ever faced by the United States.
Today, the American Legion,
having seen its members through i'll
health. wounds and unemployment
to a condition OF well-being, is a
group of individuals entitled to
speak for the country.
What is the Legion? A volun-
tary union of individuals approach
ing 100000 in number; those who
set no limit to the services they Of
tered their flag in an hour Of need;
Individuals representing every sta
uon In life from the humblest arti-
son to the most powerful citizen:
bound by no limitations of any kind,
race, religion, color or opinion, save
that they hust have understood the
benefits of the Declaration of indie
pendence and the Constitution we'll
enough to offer their minds and bod
les without reservation.
THE individuals composing the
Legion owe no favors to anyone.
They fear none. They have helped
defeat the most powerful enemy of
the country who ever stood in the
open. They are prepared to do the
same to all other enemies. Legion
aires owe no single political party al
legiance. They furnish the backbone
Of all parties interested in the coun-
try's welfare and prosperity. They
must lead to the assurance that the
government represents the will of the
people.
I'm the case of France may be seen
a striking illustration. There are
those who have no patience with the
Frenchmen in their struggle to live.
Can any member of the American
Legion forget the gallantry and the
sacrifice of those men in horizon
blue who stood solid at Verdun
against ten times their number of
German hordes who would deprive
the United States, France and Eng
land Of Democracy's benefits? Can
we forget the little villages from
which every serviceable son persisted
for patriotism?
France has been the friend Of the
United States since the earliest days
of our history. The Legion, mindful
of this historic debt, can do much to
influence American public opinion in
the fair direction of good fellowship
for faithful friend"