Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-20

Initial proceedings In the unprece-
dented task of taking the Gold Star
Mothers of America to the, battlefields
and burial places Of their sons abroad
inspire new feelings Of gratitude toward
those who made the sacrifice in war. 1t
mothers of the dead soldiers will gain
q new understanding which may con-
tribute In some measure to the solution
Of national problems of the future.
"Those who make the journey" says
the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, will ind
that they are not alone in the regions
where they 60. They are certain to
meet with the sympathetic cordially
that wiz make them feel at home. as In
deed be. They win find across the
ocean that they belong to larger band
Of parents, not all under one nag, but
all under one shadow. When these
mothers return they must bring back
with them not only concrete memories
but expanded sympathieS and q fuller
understanding Of matter in which
understanding is salutary to SORROW"
~ \
'sThese mothers" according to the
Admission Star, "will tread the battle
fields on which their sons laid down
their lives and kneel at graves where
these heroes sleep near the scene OF
conflict, but far removed from home and
loved ones" OF the project itself the
Star declares: "It was fitting that the
pilgrimage should get under way on the
anniversary of the departure Of the first
contingent of the American forces sent
to France to participate in the World
War-the vanguard Of an army that was
to number two million men before the
conflict had ended. The anniversary OF
the beginning Of the American expedi-
ton abroad thereby becomes also the
date on which another group Of Amer
leans sets forth on q journey abroad,
but this time 1t Is the mothers Of the
boys who never came back from the
great adventure on foreign soil"
Republics are not always migrate
full" AYERS the Oklahoma City Times.
land there Is something of national
kindness and gratitude in this pill
grimage Of the Gold Star Mothers over
seas. The Government Is sending them
to visit the halloweti graves Of their
sons who fought and fell along the
western front. Theirs Is sad mission,
but 1t should be proud one, too. Their
sacrifice 10 q Nations need was beyond
price. For them the bitterness and
anguish Of war did not end with the
armistice that made 90 much OF the
Studying the pilgrimage a. o means
Of enriching the spirit Of the Nation,
the Omaha World-Herald suggests:
after all the excitement and newness
Of the voyage; after all the music of
the bands, the cheers Of onlookers, the
gifts from friends, the novelty Of the
new sights and sounds, there win come
for each Of the mothers heart drench-
ing moment. That win come when she
stands at last beside the mound and be-
fore the white cross which tells her that
in the earth at her feet lies the body
of her son. That moment will be just
bit too solemn, Just O bit too sad, for
any one to intrude upon. One likes to
believe, however, that there win be re-
established then some kind of happy
communion between the mother and
her dead boy:ta communion that will
dissolve the woe In her heart that he
had to 60 so; communion that may
result in some new determination and
new resolve that other mothers boys in
future years viii not have to make the
sacrifice that war demands"
"They know" thinks the Danbury
Evening News, "of long. anxious days,
days Of waiting, days when letter from
somewhere In France meant Joy and
assurance that, at least for q time
longer, my boy was safe. And the Gold
Star Mother knows, too, Of that un-
gpeakable day when she was told that
her boy had met the fate Of countless
other boys in that war;"
"a proud sorrow Is theirs, borne with
the lofty dignity Of one who has sacri-
feed her most cherished possession,
and In return has earned a Nations
gratitude" says the San Antonio Ex-
press, while the New Castle News
records that "these travellers are filled
with the consciousness that their sons
were tried and found not wanting" The
Qolumhae 90. O. state emphasizes the
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