The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-11-18
Major Bannigan Pays Tribute to DAV, Red
 Cross, The Democrat

Speaking as the guest of the Waterbury chapter, Disabled Amer ican Veterans, Major Thomas J. Bannigan in broadcast from Sta tion WATR Saturday afternoon, paid a compliment to the local DAY. the Waterbury Democrat, and local Chapter of the American Red Cross. He reviewed the number of disability cases handled at Newing- ton and throughout the United States. He also declared that per- sons advocating reductions in the army or navy and the abolition ot military training did not under stand human nature.
 Major Bannigan, director of the U. S. Veterans hospital at Newing- ton, spoke as follows:
 First, wish to bring to my ra- dio friends the greetings of the pa- tients at the Veterans Administra- ton hospital in Newington, and to express their appreciation for the sincere interest and helpfulness Of the public, and the veterans organ izations in their behalf. I feel that our mutual and joint consideration of the problems of our disabled war casuals are best solved in the won- derful cooperation that has pre- vailed between the Disabled Amer ican Veterans of the World War, the sponsors of this broadcast, and other of our veteran and civic or ganizations, which are so represen- tative in your Veterans Council in Waterbury.
 have heard much favorable com ment about the forums which have been conducted over this station by the Waterbury Democrat, and have been very much interested in the constructive information that Is emanating therefrom, especially as regards our war disabled veterans.
 You have had many distinguished speakers in the past who have brought messages to you and IL, tn a small measure, l can add some thing of merit to the contributions made by my predecessors, shall have been well repaid for my visit here today.
 When my good loyal friend, John Barry, extended the invitation to me, I pondered upon 8 subject which would be interesting, and one on which I would be qualified to speak. One usually likes to rely upon his experiences, around which to weave his remarks, and of all my diversified activities the present field of work in which I am engaged is to me the most appealing, namely, thS caring for the disabled veter- anr of the World War.
 Days of 1917
 During the exciting days of 1917 and IS, the young manhood Of America was giving of its very body and soul in taking up the conquest for the cause of humanity. Our armed forces reached the stupen- dous number of over four million men, and of this number we trans ported to France about two million, ard, in addition, had on the high seas. in our Navy, another great contingent of young America. Many of those who went in the service were young men, perhaps leaving home and family for the first time, and being swept into life of which they had no knowledge, and for which they had received little or no training.
 '~lAs fervor and passion of the war days of 1917 and 'l8 followed by the economic and social readjustment and reconstruction period of 1919 and 20, with the subsequent indus trial and financial depression of 1921, are all experiences we have lived through, but which few of us, l imagine, have actually appreciat- ed or understood. We can recall the days when our young men were leaving for training camps; then the reports coming back home of the reverses and victories of our troops; and then, later, the return of our expeditionary forces from abroad and the young men from our train ing camps, throughout the country, to their homes. We probably can visualize again how our soldiers of the 26th Division paraded through the streets of Connecticut upon their return, and just prior to their discharge from the service, but there were many whom we did not sec within their ranks, and 1t is to those men for whom the service of the United States Veterans Admin istration is dedicated, Out of the two million men we sent abroad there were returned to this country 1l7,000, wounded and sick, some of them to live; some to die; many not to know for years the price they must pay for their participation in the war In addition, on foreign soil, 80,000 members of the Amer ican Expeditionary Force. were killed in action or died of wounds, injuries or diseases. The American cemeteries in France, where row upon row, are erected the little white crosses. will always symbolize the great sacrifices which were made, that we and the present and succeeding generations in this coun- try, as well as throughout the world, may enjoy peace, happiness and prosperity. The soil of France has been immortalized by the blood of those men and women, who made the supreme sacrifice, and the debt which we owed France since the days of the Revolution has been re- paid 8 thousand fold.
 324,56O on List
 Today the United States Govern ment, through the Veterans Ad- ministration, is caring for the phy- sical and mental welfare of our country's war disabled, and at the present time over 324,560 veterans