LB 5541 AsA5| 919 t: il Alabama Memorial Commission SUGGESTIVE PROGRAM FOR USE IN THE SCHOOLS OF THE STATE MEMORIAL BUILDING DAY MAY 9, 1919 Montgomeix Alabama. The Brown Printing Company, Printers and Bindera, 1919. Iiiil Alabama Memorial Commission SUGGESTIVE PROGRAM FOR USE-IN THE SCHOOLS OF THE STATE MEMORIAL BUILDING DAY MAY 9, 1919 Montgomery, Alabama. The Brown Printing Company, Printers and Binders, 1919. L5f5^. ^ ALABAMA MEMORIAL COMMISSION Created by Act of the Legislature, Febriiar}^ 3, 1919. MEMBERS Hon. Thomas E. Kilby^ Governor, e.jo-officio member and President, Montgomery; Hon. T. J. Bbdsole^ President pro tern of the Senate, ex-officio, Grove Hill ; Hon. Henry P. Merritt^ Speaker, House of Representa- tives, ex-ojficio, Tuskegee; Hon. J. Q. Smith, Attorney General, ex-ojficio, Mont- gomery ; Dr. Thomas M. Owen, Director, Dept. of Archives and History, ex-officio member and Secretary and Historian, Montgomery; Hon. Borden Burr, Birmingham; Judge W. R. Chapman, Dothan ; Hon. Albert C. Davis, Montgomery ; Judge N. D. Denson, Opelika ; Senator James B. Ellis, Selma ; Hon. C. A. O'Neal, Andalusia; Hon. A. G. Patterson, Albany ; Hon. L. PiziTz, Birmingham ; Col. Richard V. Taylor, Mobile ; Hon. Joseph O. Thompson, Birmingham ; Rev. Dr. Richard Wilkinson, Montgomery; Dr. Henry J. Willingham, Florence. > ». of D. MAy 2\ 1919 "ur MEMORIAL PROGRAM FOR ALABAMA SCHOOLS Friday, May 9, 1919 (This program is suggestive merely. It may be elaborated or abridged as occasion may demand.) 1. Song — Alabama (3 stanzas). 2. Poem — A Song for Heroes By a girl 3. Reading — Memorial for Soldiers By a hoy 4. Poem — In Flanders Fields By a girl 5. Poem — Rest in Peace By a hoy 6. Reading — Commission Resolution on the form of the Memorial By a lady 7. Song — The Star Spangled Banner (2 stanzas) . 8. Reading — Alabama Educational Association Reso- lution , By the teacher 9. War Record — (a) Of our State (Gov. Thomas E. Kilby's mes- sage ) . (b) Of our County, or Community. (To be com- piled by the teacher, or by an interested citizen ) . 10. Poem — The Debt By a girl 11. Patriotism — What It Is, and Is Not — A four min- ute talk By a citizen 12. Our Part in the Memorial — Original appeal hy a patriotic citizen. 13. Contribution to the Memorial Fund by the Children. (Here will be publicly presented the gifts of the teachers and children.) 14. Song — America (3 ston^^as). SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS 1. The foregoing program is merely suggestive, and may be enlarged or abridged to harmonize with local conditions. Items No. 6 and No. 13 should, however, be retained as parts of the program. 2. The teachers and local trustees are to serve as the executive committee, and are requested to make ample arrangments for the success of the projected exercises. Co-operation of all agencies of the county should be en- listed. Make May 9th a great day in your County. 3. Where schools have closed before May 9tli, it is urged that the local teacher prepare special community exercises or make a personal canvass amomi the children in the interest of the memorial fund. If May 9th is not the most desirable date, select another more suitable, but under no conditions later than June 1. These exercises may constitute an important part of your commence- ment exercises. 4. Previous to May 9th teachers should give the pupils detailed instruction regarding the method, purpose, and amount of contribution desired. Contributions are to be made solely hij teachers and children^ the minimum average contribution should be five dollars per teacher, and fifty cents per pupil. 5. Teachers should make a careful record, in dupli- cate, of the amount given by each pupil. One copy of this record should constitute a permanent record of the school ; the other copy should be sent, with all funds col- lected, to Hon. W. S. Stallings, State Campaign Director, Y. M. C. A. Building, Birmingham, Ala. All funds should be remitted by check, post office money order, or registered letter, payable to the Ala- bama Memorial Commission. ALABAMA BY MISS JULIA S. TUTWILER Alabama, Alabama, We will aye be true to thee, From tli3^ Southern shore where growetli, By the sea, thine orange tree. To thy Northern vale where flloweth. Deep and blue thy Tennessee, Alabama, Alabama, We will aye be true to thee ! Brave and pure thy men and women, Better this than corn and wine. Make us worthy, God in heaven, Of this goodly land of thine ; Hearts as open as our doorways. Liberal lands and spirits free, Alabama, Alabama, We will aye be true to thee ! Little, little, can I give thee, Alabama, mother mine; But that little — hand, brain, spirit, All I have and am are thine, Take, O take the gift and giver, Take and serve thyself with me, Alabama, Alabama, I will aye be true to thee ! A SONG FOR HEROES BY EDWIN MARKHAM I. A song for the heroes who saw the sign And took their place in the battle-line; They were walls of granite and gates of brass ; And they cried out to God, "They shall not pass !" And they hurled them back in a storm of cheers. And the sound will echo on over the years. And a soiic; for the end, for the glorious end, And the soldiers marching np over the bend Of the broken roads in gallant France, The homing heroes who took the chance, Who looked on life, and with even breath Faced the winds from the gulfs of death. Their hearts are running on over the graves — Over the battle-wrecks — over the waves — Over the scarred fields — over the foam — On to America — on to home! II. And a song for the others, the heroes slain In Argonne Forest — in St. Gobain — In the flowery meadows of Picardy — In Belgium — in Italy, From brave Montello to the sea. A song for the heroes gone on ahead To join the hosts of the marching dead — A song for the souls that could lightly fling Sweet life away as a little thing For the sake of the mighty need of earth, The need of the ages coming to birth. All praise for the daring God who gave Heroic souls that could dare the grave. Praise for the power He laid on youth To challenge disaster and die for truth. What greater gift can the High God give, Than the power to die that the truth may live ! Glory to the Lord, the Hero of Heaven, He whose wounds in His side are seven — Glory that He gathers the heroes home, Out of the red fields, out of the foam — Gathers them out of the Everywhere, Into the Camp that is Over There! IN FLANDERS' FIELDS BY LIEUT.-COL. JOHN D. McCRAE 111 Flanders' fields the poppies grow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place, and in the sky The larks still bravely singing fly. Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead ; short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunsets glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders' fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe ! To you from falling hands we throw The torch ; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies blow In Flanders' fields. REST IN PEACE BY JAMES N. GUNNELS Sleep on, ye Brave, In Flanders' fields. The torch that dropped from falling hands Is blazing high o'er war-free lands, And happy larks now singing fly O'er cross-marked graves of ye who lie In Flanders' fields. We kept the faith. In Flanders' fields Where poppies bloom the graves among. For countless years that yet may come Shall Freedom still her vigil keep O'er noble sons in peaceful sleep, In Flanders' fields. 8 Best on, ye, then, In Flanders' fields. Xo more the sound of bursting shell, No murderous gas, no seething hell; Yet, 'tis not death ; what seems to be Is dawn of immortality, In Flanders' fields. DESIGN OF THE ALABAMA MEMORIAL Resolution Adopted by the Alabama Memorial Commis- sion, April 3, 1919 WnEREAS_, the act of the Legislature under which we derive our powers authorizes us only to adopt plans, receive contributions for, and cause the erection of "a suitable memorial to commemorate the part of Alabama and Alabamians in the world war," "to adopt the form and design of the memorial," and "to secure an appro- priate site on which to locate or erect the said memo- rial ;" and Whereas, both the spirit of the law and the intent of the Legislature of Alabama provide for a memorial to our soldiers and sailors perpetuating for posterity their records and evidencing by its name, character and loca- tion, its form and design the dominant ideal of a state- wide memorial, as distinguished from the humanitarian idea ; therefore, he it resolved, (1) That we adopt as the form of memorial a build- ing to be called "Alabama Memorial," and to be of such design and architecture as will best illustrate and com- memorate the record of Alabama and Alabamians in the world war ; (2) That in order that the memorial building should be state- wide in both its purposes and uses an appropri- ate site on or near the capitol grounds, in the city of Montgomery, be secured ; (3) And in order to secure for posterity the records of the past, present and future and the traditions of the past, and to assist in formulating the future historical movements of the State, and in order that our educa- (i»Huil system may keep step with the progress of our people — both drawing inspiration from our history and lending strength thereto — and for the reason that the history of our State and the education of its citizens are so closely allied, the State Department of Archives and History shall have the custody or care of the said memo- rial building and its historical contents, and the State Department of Education shall be housed therein. (4) That the Executive Committee of the Commis- sion in keeping with these resolutions be authorized and directed to procure proper plans and specifications for the memorial building, determine the extent of the cost thereof, and make report to this commission as far as l^racticable within thirty days from this date. THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER BY FRANCIS SCOTT KEY Oh ! say, can you see by the dawn's early light. What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleam- ing? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight. O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming ; And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there. Chorus : O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mist of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes. What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected, now shines in the stream. Chorus : 'Tis the star-spangled banner, oh ! long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ! 10 RECORD OF ALABAMA IN THE EUROPEAN WAR {Extract from the Message of Gov. Thomas E. Kilby, to the Legis- lature, January 21, 1919.) ''The prompt and efficient action of our Government, the ready and cheerful response of our men to the call to the colors, and the devotion and sacrifices of all the peo- ple of the nation have served to bring to a speedy and successful conclusion the terrible conflict that has been waged so long and so fiercely upon the battlefields of Europe and the East. We may confidently look to our envoys and those of our allies to so contrive the settle- ment of affairs as to render it impossible that such an- other catastrophe shall ever again occur. In fact, we may now indulge the hope that wars are at an end for all time. "As American citizens we may take a just and pardon- able pride in the efficiency and unusual achievements of those charged with the conduct of the war. Especially are we gratified to have demonstrated that the sons of free men, taken from civil life and trained but a few short months, can meet and overcome the seasoned vet- erans of Autocracy upon fields of their own choice. The gallant conduct and indomitable spirit of America's fighting men, and the devoted and sacrificial support of them by practically the whole citizenship, has taught the world a lesson that it will not soon forget. Indeed, I doubt if ever again any nation will have the temerity to draw the United States into an armed conflict. "As Alabamians we are more than proud of the heroic deeds of our valiant sons and the prompt and liberal re- sponse of our people to all the demands made upon them. We congratulate with great satisfaction the fame of our boys on the fields of France and Belgium. It is indeed gratifying to know that in France Alabama is a dear and honored name because of the brave, chivalric con- duct of our "Fighting Fouth" Regiment, and many other of our sons who have shared the dangers and endured the toil and hardships incident to warfare. 11 "They have written a burning page upon the annals of t)ur State and nation and we should see to it that the record of their deeds be not lost or forgotten. That they may be perpetuated let us join with the other states and the nation in erecting memorials commensurate with the immeasurable sacrifices they made for Freedom, Justice and Eight. Many of them will never return ; others will come to us, maimed and broken, for rehabilitation. They bave made, or have offered to make, the supreme sacri- fice. It is meet, therefore, that we should properly com- memorate their deeds." THE DEBT BY THEODOSIA GARRISON For the youth they gave and the blood they gave, For the strength that was our stay, For every marked or namelesss grave On the steel-torn Flanders way — We who are whole of body and soul We have a debt to pay. For the youth they gave and the blood they gave We must render back the due; For every marked or nameless grave We must pay with a service true ; Till the scales stand straight with even weight And the world is a world made new. 12 PATRIOTISM— WHAT IT IS, AND IS NOT Patriotism meaDs an intelligent love and reverence for one's country, its loftiest ideals and its supreme welfare. Patriotism and heroism are in much synonymous, for every patriot is a hero. Patriotism is the reverse of jin- goism, bolshevism and anarchism. Patriotism is a liv- ing principle, a spirit, and the true patriot does not merely think the part, he acts it. The three hundred Spartans who defended the pass of Thermopylae proved their patriotism by sacrificing their lives for their coun- try. Patriotism is impossible without schools, for education is essential to the development of the highest, noblest and most useful form of service one can render to his country. The true patriot is a loyal, intelligerft, law- abiding citizen who is ever reay to sacrifice individual honor and glory for the good of his country and human- ity. The true patriot believes in good schools, good churches, good government, and is willing to contribute his time, means and energy to develop these institutions. The true patriot "cares too much for his country to up- hold her in any wrong. He does not reserve his patriot- ism until he has a chance to die for his country ; he lives for her. He does not urge the selection of the best men for candidates, and then refuse to serve when called upon, though at the cost of time and money and inclina- tion. He does not vote for bad men, and then, plead that he did not know they were bad. He takes time to inves- tigate the characters of candidates." Patriotism exists in peace as truly as in war. The fireman is as heroic and patriotic while off duty as he is when he amid flames rescues a perishing human being. The soldier is as much a patriot when in the training camp or even in the schoolroom preparing to serve his country as he is when he falls in the line of battle. The difference is that in the latter case the fireman or the soldier demonstrates his heroism. 13 Who does not love a real patriot? Every American who gave his life for freedom's cause was a patriot, a hero. They gave their lives that those of us who still live might have a freer, better world in which to live. They paid the debt in Liberty's name. We loved them, we now love and revere their memories, and we are glad we now have an opportunity to record and .perpetuate the rec- ords of our heroes, and may we not in a feeble way meas- ure our love for our fallen, and our patriotism for Ala- bama and America by our contribution to the "Alabama Memorial," commemorative of the part of this State and its people in the World War. 14 AMERICA BY SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died,. Land of the Pilgrims' pride. From every mountain side Let freedom ring ! My native country, thee, Land of the noble free, Thy name I love ; I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills ; My heart with rapture thrills Like that above. Our fathers' God, to Thee, Author of Liberty, To Thee we sing; Long may our land be bright With Freedom's holy light ; Protect us by Thy might. Great God, our King. "^BT 15 MEMORIAL FOR SOLDIERS (Extract from Report of the Alabama Council of Defense, 1918.) Just as we have served the living, so we must pay tribute in an abiding way to those heroes who have fin- ished their course in life. As a testimonial to the gal- lantry, the courage and the nobleness of purpose which actuated them to go forth to battle, should we not erect a permanent and lasting memorial? Not one simply of artistic conception or imposing design, but a building of adequate proportions and enduring usefulness, and which will tend to keep alive the records and exploits of those sons of Alabama who made the supreme sacrifice, and yet prove a benefaction to the veterans of the great world war. We trust that by legislative action or volun- tary subscriptions, either or both, some definite program may be worked out to commemorate the acts of heroism and devotion of Alabama's sons who lie beneath the sod of a sister Republic. I mm WMH