Legion Home Dedicated

HUNDEREDS SEE LEGION HOME DEDICATED Seneca Falls, May 18. - “They shall not pass!” Coined in Verdun, this has since been an American Legion watchword. A watchword in that the memory of those who would not allow the enemy to march on, is not permitted to pass without some significant honor. Deeds of the heroic are like that.
Tribute to the supreme sacrifices of Seneca County hero dead and to the first two Seneca Falls boys to die in France. Frederick Kirk and Maynard Casey, was paid by all manner of people yesterday. Halted in their Sabbath march of life, they offered their respects at the dedication of a new Legion Memorial. Home in State St.
SKIES THREATEN.
Under sodden, lowering skies that threatened to drench the ceremony, hundreds, including rich and poor, young and old. Friends of the dead in life, and in the A. E. F., surrounded the speakers’ stand.
Pressing about on the edge of the crowd was the representative citizenry of the village and others high in the service of the country and state.
Some wept unashamedly, others stood hard eyed and silent throughout the activities, even through the firing of the salute and the sounding of taps.
On the outside of the crowd and seated on the porch were aged men, some of them Civil War veterans, bent and gray, whose countenances were wiped at intervals from tears as they witnessed the proceedings and recalled memories of their conflicts.
Flags were unfurled along the main streets and Legion and other military organization banners were flaunted in a parade from the temporary chambers of the Legion in the Citizens’ Club to the site of the Memorial Home.
Commander Bernard J. Luckern of Kirk-Casey Post, opened the program with his expression of appreciation to all who made the new home possible, and introduced the chairman of the day, C. C. Christopher, D.D.S.
STUDENT BAND PLAYS.
Following a preamble, the Mynderse Academy student band played the “Star Spangled Banner,” while the throngs forgot their restlessness, and stood rather smartly at attention.
Invocation was delivered by Rev. Harry W. Johnson, pastor of Memorial Congregational Church. Post history was read by Dr. Christopher. He then introduced Mrs. Louise Williams of Tuckahoe, state president of the Legion Auxiliary. She congratulated the post and auxiliary and urged the women to do their bit in advancing the post’s ideals.
State Commander John H. Bennett Jr. of New York City, the chief speaker of the day with Rev. George F. Kattell, declared that the Kirk-Casey post had reached a climax with the erection of the new Memorial Home.
Rev. George F. Kattell of Macedon, national chaplain of the American Legion, with forcefulness seldom heard anywhere, implored the Legion to seek service in their accomplishments. He stated that the new Memorial Home is evidence of the reverence and respect in which Kirk Casey post holds its heroic dead, by its dedication to them.
Congratulations from National Commander O. L. Bodenheimer of Indianapolis were brought East by Rev. Kattell, who recently returned from the West in the interest of the Legion. He delivered the message sent by Bodenheimer to the post here.
After his speech, a dozen “doughboys” who saw service in the A. E. F., with a sharp command from an officer, fired three volleys in a salute.
PROGRAM ENDS.
“America,” rendered by the Mynderse Academy Band, conducted by John Fraser, concluded the musical portion of the ceremony.
Benediction, pronounced by Rev. B. L. Quirk, pastor of St. Patrick’s Church, wrote finis to the program.
Police were busy throughout the afternoon directing the heaviest traffic in the history of the village. The ceremony was slated for 4 o’clock, although it did not get under way until some time afterward, as officials awaited the arrival of speakers and notables.
(From the Seneca Falls, Reveille).