The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-05-11
Second Pilgrimage
 Of World War Mothers Mai Gen Dewitt Delivers Address at Arlington National

The following is the address
 delivered by Major General John / L. Dewitt, The Quatermaster
 General of the Army, at the
 Amphitheatre, Arlington Cemetery
 to The National American Mothers
 at the Seventh Annual Mothers :. day service yesterday.
 -Four days ago there sailed from New York, as guests of their govern ment, a group of women journey ing to satisfy longing that up to two years ago had not the faintest possibility of fulfllment, for they had started on 8 pilgrimage to that hallowed spot in Europe where lies a son that died soldier"
 No pilgrim ever experienced the transcendent heights of these mothers whose mecca is a white cross in far off France. No country has ever shown it's gratitude in so thoughtful manner and human a way in recognition of the greatest sacrifice a mother can make. The nation has honored it's soldier dead, cared for it's disabled, provided for its dependents, and now the mothers of those who made the supreme sacrifice are seeing their own deeds recognized.
 'This is the second year of the pilgrimage of mothers to the graves of their sons in Europe, made pos- sibls by the law of March 2. 1923. and which under the terms thereof mugt terminate in f933. The law makes eligible for the pilgrimage the mothers of all men of the Army. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard who died in Europe during the World War and are inferred in the cemeteries there; those who were lost at sea; and those who are stils unaccounted for, limiting the duration of the stay in Europe to two weeks. All expenses connected with the journey from the moment the mother leaves her home until she returns thereto are borne by the United States. She may select the time she wishes to go, between May 1st and September 30th of any one of the four years; and, after she had so determined, all arrange ments for her journey from that time forward are made by the War Department. She has only to pro- vide her necessary clothing and hand baggage"
 "The secretary of war is charged by law with the management OI tHe pilgrimage, and he has designated the quatermasters corps of the army as his agency for administering the provisions of the law. All the per sonnel engaged in connection with the management of the pilgrimage are officers of the regular army se- lected annually for this duty, with the exception of those nurses em- ployed on the vessels of the United States lines, on which the sea voy- age is made. and in Europe.
 "Every effort is made to make the mothers feel that they are truly guests of their government and that 1t is desired to provide for all theii wants-no matter how treat or how small they may be. for '' they make them known they will be met"
 Every detail for making these mothers comfortable on these pill gfimages has been planed in ad. vance and they are fully advised by suggestions and helpful informa- ton just what to do before start ing from their homes. In fact, the arrangements are such that they need only follow a few simple hints and then rest on the assurance thai they are truly guests of the nation from the moment that they leave their door steps until they arrive back home. Each mother, after sht has been advised as to what trair