Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24

With the passing of Ferdinand Foch,
generalissimo Of the allied armies OF
the World War in Paris. France, few
days ago, the American Legion, both
nationally and locally. has lost a valued
member and friend and veteran VINO
was beloved by the entire world.
Marshal Foch was member OF the
Department of the District of Column
bia and his election and reception on
arrival at the Union Station in the Fall
of 1921 will long be remembered by the
Legionnaires who participated In that
demonstration.
Department Adjt Howard S. Fisk,
who was commander of George Wash
ington Post, No. /, the pioneer post OF
the American Legion, in 1921, received
letter from national headquarters
suggesting that Marshal Foch be elected
member Of the fist post In the Amerl-
can Legion, If i met with the approval
of the membership of that post. On
October S, Post Comdr. Fisk retired
from the chair as presiding officer at
meeting held in the board room at
the District Building and presented the
name of Marshal Foch and moved his
election. His election was unanimous
and the action of the post was imnle-
diately sent to national headquarters.
This was followed with request that
he be given the official American Legion
membership badge on his arrival IN the
National Capital in order that he be
full-fledged member of the veteran or
ganization when he arrived at the ma
tional convention in Kansas City sew
eral days later
Marshal Focn arrived at the Union
Station october %, where he was met
by the entire membership of not only
George Washington Post, but the De-
partment of the District of Columbia
as we'll The Legionnaires formed the
reception committee and escorted h1m
through the tumultuous crowds which
filled the concourse and the grounds
about the station, to the Presidents
room at the east end of the building.
Here In the presence of notable gath
ering, including ambassadors from the
various nations, high ranking oncers
of the Army, Navy and Marine corps.
Post Comdr. Fisk in brief address
told the French hero of his unanimous
election as a member of the first post
in the American Legion and then
pinned the American Legion member
ship badge on his gray uniform: He
expressed appreciation for the honor
conferred and paid tribute TO the
American soldiers for the valuable as
sistance rendered his country. i
The regular membership card issued
by the Legion at that time was pre-
sented to him. which he countersigned
at one end Two additional cards were
signed by Marshal Foch, one OF winch
was reproduced in the American Legion
magazine and the other now adorns the
wall of the clubhouse of George Wash
ingtou Post at 1441 Rhode Island ave-
nue. In a large frame containing the
signed membership card, which is also
signed by Past Comdr. Fisk and A. l..
Giacomini, post finance officer, as well
as Marshal Foch, is the pen which ne
used and on the either side OF which
is a large photograph of Marshal Focn
and Past Comdr. Fisk in their respec-
tive Army and Navy uniforms.
Marshal Foch attended the national
convention which was held in Kansas
City october 81. November l, ana
and was welcomed as comrade In the
organization amidst the greatest ova-
ton ever known in the history OF the
American Legion. Each year his MEM
bership card has been sent to him in
France by George Washington Post.
Gen. Pershing and the late President
Woodrow Wilson were elected to MEM
bership in 1919.
After one of the most spirited con-
tests in a race for a national trophy,
the Department of the District of Co
lumbia, according to the special bulletin
issued few days ago by national head
quarters. lost out to the Department of
Hawaii for the Henry D. Lindsey tro-
ply for the department showing the
greatest percentage gain in member
ship to March /. The official notice
shows that the Hawaiian Legionnaires
finished first with a percentage Of
1859; District of Columbia, second,
121 SO; Wyoming third, S7.58 Virginia,
fourth, 1852. and Indiana, fifth, BIOS.
The same information was contained in
a letter to Department Adjt. Howard
S. Fisk from Assistant National Adjt.
Frank E. Samuel, who says in his let
ter: "Your department put up splen-
did race and you are certainly to be
congratulated. We, of course, always
realize that the deparmenS at dis
lance from the United States are al
ways an uncertain quantity until actu-
ally heard from" In the Kentucky
Derby, however, the District of Column
bia at last reports was leading the field,
with combined Legion and auxiliary
average of 1909, with Hawaii in second
place with 1894; Panama, third, 86.98;
Wyoming, fourth, 1886, and Mississippi,
fifth, 81 95 per cent.
The District Department hopes to
win not only the Kentucky Derby,
which ends May ID, but is going after
some of the other national trophies.
They include the Quinn trophy for the
department showing the greatest per-
centage of gain in membership over the
previous four years on June Is, the
MacNider trophy for the department
showing the greatest percentage gain
in membership to within 80 days Of the
next national convention and the En-
cry trophy for the department showing
the greatest percentage gain in men,
berShip over the previous four years to
within 80 days Of the next national
convention. The Department of the
District Of Columbia will have the
honor Of being the first department to
receive silver staff honor plate for
passing the 100 per cent mark.
One of the last official acts of Presi-
dent Calvin Coolidge was to sign the
Gold Star Mothers bill, which was in
dorsed at the San Antonio convention
last Fall. This bill provides for the
pilgrimages of the mothers and I'M
married widows of World War veterans
who are now buried In cemeteries over
seas. The pilgrimages to these graves
are to be made at the expense of the
| United States during the period from
May /, 1880 to October 81, 1888, under
| the direction Of the Secretary Of War.
| No mother or widow will be provided
for at Government expense in Europe
| for a longer period than two weeks.
Cabin class accommodations will be
| furnished for all transportation at sea.
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