The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-06-16
''Pretended Patriotism
BIZ J. T. Williams, Jr.

A GAINsT "the impostures of pretended patriotism"
IA George Washington gave stern warning in The Fare
we'll Address
One such imposure has recently raised ugly head in
the historic city Of Reading, Pennsylvania which was
founded in 1748 by two of William Penn.
The socaled Getty fathers" of Reading have refused to
accept from the Army and Navy Club Of San Francisco
memorial plaque in honor of the late Lieutenant General
George Hunter Lggett who ably commanded the First
American Army in the Great War.
General Lggett was and raised in Reading Through
out his forty years ustrious service peace and his
affection his native and his pride in the county OF
which it is the county seat never waned.
Of Readings refusal permit the memory Of this Amer
can patriot to receive appropriate the home of his
BIRTH the Army and Navy Register has this to say:
I'VE never thought would live to the day when an
American community would decline to pay honor to out
standing native who had rendered distinguished
service the Nation period of more than forty years
and concluded that service by commanding larger force Of
Americans than any other man.
1T is lust another indication Of the depths to which the
fair city Of Reading has fallen at the hands Of subversve
local administration.
1T is the goal towards which any city that toeraes such
an administration is headed"
But as this commentator truly says here is silver lining
to the cloud" which has settled over Reading.
The American Legion Of that community has taken the
challenge of the misguided public who to blame
for this humatng episode Under the leadership of the
Legion the fight to redeem the honor of General Lg
gets native by forcing its local government to deal
justly with the memory Of her heroic SON.
It is far cry the Reading of the Revolution to the
Reading of today
In response the call for by the Second Continental
Congress- company Reading and Berks County mitamen
had the honor being the first unit to report to General
Washington at Cambridge.
1t is far from the Reaolng Oh the ClV war 10 Inc
Reading of today
Itwa the Rnggod Light Arteryrecruted for the most
part from Reading Berk Counyhat had the honor Of
being the volunteer company to reach the National Capt.
tai when President Lincoln called for troops and thereby
earned for themselves the title of the First Defenders
War was as much hated in 1917 by Readings native son.
Hunter Lgge in 1861 by the Savior Of the Union
and as it was in ITS by the Father of His Country
But Hunter Lggett learned in his Reading home from his
father and mother in the Reading schools to which they
sent him to cherish those ideals Of honor and duty which
the very flesh blood of true patriotism He loved peace
but he loved Righteousness more and MS natreo Oh war
deafened his ear to the call of Country
This gallant of Reading made record as Defender
with the Coos in which his fellow Americans the country
over take just and lasting pride They will prefer to believe
that the gnobe gesture to which the Reading city govern
ment has stopped truly public sentiment IN
Hunter Liggett's native town.