The times-news., 1938-11-09
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1888
THE AMERICAN LEGION

cause the Legion has any exclusive claims
to the duty and privilege of commemorate
ing the Armistice, but because the Legion
has made it one of its primary purposes
through the years since 1918 to lead the
citizenry of the nation in patriotic remem-
brance and celebration of the Armistlce
and in paying reverent tribute both to the
men who gave their lives in the world con-
flict and to the far greater number who
gave honorable and courageous service
and survived the conflict.
Friday, November 18th, the nation will
observe Armistice Day. The program Tor
this observance in Hendersonville has been
announced and was inaugurated Sunday
evening with the usual service OF the
churches at the auditorium. The ARMS
tice Day parade and gathering at the audi
torium is scheduled for Friday morning.
At that time DIR. John w. Inzer, pastor OF
the First Baptist church of Ashevllle, Will
make the memorial address.
DR.. Inzer, the first national chaplain OF
the Legion, is one of the most distinguished
ministers in the South and one of the ablest
and most impressive speakers identified
with the Legion.
The Times-News takes occasion to unite
with the Legion in urging the people OF the
town and county to manifest their interest
in the veterans and the days ceremonies
by turning out in large numbers to attend
these exercises and hear the address OF Dr.
Inzer AS patriotic citizens, with whole
hearted appreciation of the record and ser
vices of our soldiers in the great war, and
determination to evidence to them, and
particularly to the Legion, this apprecia-
ton, let us make known our attitude dur
ing this Armistice Week.
1t is charged that there has been weak
ening of patriotism on the part of the ma
tion's citizens since the World war; a
breaking down of honest devotion to the
obligations and duties of citizenship. In a
measure, this newspaper believes the criti-
cism is warranted. The Times-News, there
fore, follows the example of the Rev. j.
Arthur Linn Armistice celebration minis
ter, in his Sunday evening address at the
auditorium, in which he called upon our
people to rededicate themselves to support
of democratic principles, American ideals
and the perpetuation of liberty as we know
it in this country.
Let Armistice week mark the beginning
of these aroused and awakened sentiments
and may the future witness more sincere
devotion to these sacred principles and
fundamentals of the inaienable rights of
mankind.
AS we urge upon our people collectively
an aroused interest and increased patriotic
zeal, we take occasion, also, to urge that
al citizens of the county who served in the
great war should identify themselves ac-
lively with the American Legion.
We are informed that little more than
one-fourth of the ex-service men of the
county now hold membership in the Le-
gion. We are also informed that of the
Legion's work and service for former sol
diers, about 90 per cent is performed for
men who are not members of the organ
ization. Thus the greater part of the la
OofS VI TIE LSSIOu are ueNOleu lO dlu u
men who do not actively support the or
ganization by participation in its program
and while the Legion is glad to perform
these services and aid all former soldiers
who need its help, this newspaper believes
that every ex-service man in the county
who finds it possible to do so, should hold
membership in the Legion.
Therefore, it is the hope of this news,
paper that this week shall be period of
expansion of the local Legion post through
the aroused interest of men eligible ia
membership, as we'll as general awaken.
ing and rededication of all our citizens to
the serious and insistent call of our coun.
try to good citizenship, to patriotism and
to undiluted and courageous devotion to
the duties and obligations of Americanism