The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-04-22
World War Veterans
 Firemen, Policemen
 Form Escort OfHonor
Mayor Hayes Greets Distinguished Visitor, Ray Mur- phy of Iowa; Popular Aggressive Leader of LegiOn-
 naires Prays for Peace, Urges Preparedness

manded the fire detail. The detail included Timothy Horagn as chief aide and Privates Maurice F. Nooll- an, Frank J. Moore, John J. Fitz- maurice, Jerome F. Pilkington, Daniel J. Tram, Michael J. Hanlon, Thomas F. Kelley, Michael J. Gal- win, Patrick F. Lynch, Jeremiah E. Tehan and Joseph J. Rice.
 The ceremony in front of the city hall was impressive as the firemen and policemen stood at attention as Commander Murphy and his party entered the municipal building.
 From the city hall the visiting of- ficials, accompanied by the recep- ton group and Mayor Hayes, went to the Elton for the luncheon. Motor Patrolmen Joseph Garvey and Jo- seph Mccarthy acted as police es- cort to the visiting Legion head in his trip through the local streets.
 Arriving at the Elton Commander Murphy was formally greeted by ad- ditional representatives of the Le- zion. The welcome of Corporal Coyle Post, host for the occasion, was given by Commander Newton w. Alexander Various other veter- ans organizations were represented.
 Commander Murphy in his ad- dress spoke on the Legion's program of service, the payment of adjusted compensation certificates and na- tional defense. In part he remarked as follows:
 My Comrades:-
 I cannot hope to impart to you adequately the feeling of pride that swells within my heart as stand before you, as I look over this gath ering of stalwart Legionnaires, and realize that to me you entrusted the high honor and sacred duty of serv- ing during this momentous year as the national commander of the American Legion.
 If there are visitors here who are not members of the American Legion, I hope they will understand that do not intend to seem boast ful or vainglorious when say, with all of the sincerity and conviction I possess, that never before was 8 more noble opportunity presented to any organization. A great objec- tive, principle for which the American Legion has worked faith fully for many years, has been at tained. I refer, of course, to the full payment of the adjusted ser- vice certificates The question be- fore us is: To what shall we direct our immediate and unresreved att tention? My comrades, the answer to that question is self-evident.
 That answer, my comrades, is the voice of America, Summoning this American Legion to 8 program Of service such as this country never before has witnessed. It calls us to a campaign of militant Amer icanism, it summons us to 8 pro- gram of peace.
 Now, for just 8 few moments, let me take you back to another objec- tive, the payment of the adjusted service certificates, in order that you may have better understand ing of its fulfillment and of our fu- ture duty. The law which directs the payment of this debt was en- acted in the face of the same pow erful and insidious forces which year after year had succeeded in crushing our efforts to have the government discharge it's acknowl- edged obligation to the veterans Of the World War. This law meets the requirements of the mandate of our St. Louis convention as fully as it is humanely possible to meet them.
 am conscious of the disappoint- ment some veterans will feel because 1t was impossible to provide for the refund of interest that had been paid upon loans. I believe it is ac- curate to say that virtually every one in Washington agreed that this interest should be refunded; but