The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1954-05-21
Return to Faith of
Forcfathers' Asks
Legion Adjulant
Speech Follows
Flag Presentations
To Local Schools

TO keep this nation strong we
must return to the faith of our
io,7 fathers. reaffirrG our moral
code and dedicate ourselves to the
service of our nation and our
fclloWmen Charles L. KeSsler,
adlutant of the Virginia Division
American Legion, told an audience
at the closing session Of II Am An
American" day on Wednesday
night
Beginning with l776, he traced
the development of the American
nation, praised the constitution.
which was an inspired document
composed by free men for their
own protection He warned. how
ever. of the growth of central
government and cited three in
vasions of states rights First,
when the thirteen American colo
mics were oppressed by the mis-
rule Of the British government
resulting in the Declaration Of
Independence. the Revolutionary
War, the Constitution of the
United States. and the formation
of a republic. Second the decision
of the Federal Government to
compel the Confederate States to
remain IN the Union. resulting in
a strong central government
'Jrbi,.d tho JaCicipn IF tho cs,,rra,,,a
Court on Monday aboliShing
segregation in public schools.
Essentially the Same
He said he had found people
essentially the same in every
country he had visited and be-
lieyes them to remain baSically
the same through the generations,
from the time of Christ to this
good day. They had the sense of
patriotism of hospitality. and of
ideahSln The principal difference
between the United States and
other countries is that most Of
them have a state religion or one
religious belief, whereas, America,
though predominantly Christian.
has religious freedom identified
with no one particular religion
The main danger in the United
States is not economic, as the
Communists hope. but a weaken
ing of the moral fibre of the
American people. Citing from his
experience as an American Ma
zine, he said that Il am an
American. had definite meaning
in every nation in which he was
stationed and he implied that
this condition must be reinstated
through d revival of the sense of
civic duty and patriotism.
General Dean Shocked
II heard General Dean speak
the other day" Kessler said. and
he said he was shocked when he
returned to the United States
after six years absence, two spent
in Communist prison camps in
Korea. to find the filth pouring
into the minds Of adults and chill
dren through billboards. maya
zines, television and other media
The corruption found in many
places I'd trust is not as serious as
this Weakening of the moral fibre
OF the nation. Dean stated.
Mr.. KeSSler closed with a fer
vent appeal for the rebirth of re-
ligious faith. rededication. to
moral codes and patriotism.
Adiutant Kessler's stirring APP
peal was the climax of a day de-
voted to what J Bairye Wall, il
Bicentennial chairman, who gave
the welcome called the best ism
of the many isms of our time
patriotism
The patriotic organizations in
Falmvlle participated in two
events one the evening session
at the FaImville High School with
tho talk by Mr.. Kessler and a
brief historical review of National
Guard Company G of Virginia by
Co. ID w. Paulette. past COM
mander, and the other which took
place earlier at the two Farm
Vile schools with the presentation
of flags and' flagstaffS
Flag Presentation
AT , p m, Company G Honor
Guard the Girl Scouts and Boy
Scouts led by the Farmville High
School Band. paraded down High
Street to tho Elementary School
where Miss Lucy Adams received
the flag outfit from Slate Hill
Chapter Daughters of the Ameri-
cam Revolution Mrs. Shelton
Whitaker being chairman Of that
groups Patriotic Committee
Following a march back to the
High School another flag and
staff was presented to Stuart Be
vile from the Jack Garland Post
American Legion and Auxiliary.
Speaking on behalf of the
Legion Post. r. B Crawford, Past
Commander American Legion De
partment Of Virginia said that
education and patriotism depend
on one another for strength. and
each is profoundly influenced By
the other"
Education without patriotism
he said is an unframed giant,
and patriotism with out educa-
ton is hstless, a futile, yes
even a terrible thing.