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Show ROOSEVELT LETTER TO POSTS Facsimile of Former President's Personal Per-sonal Message to Men In Trenches Is Sent Out. A copy of the only personal message ever prepared by former President Theodore Roosevelt for American sol-fliers sol-fliers in P'rance, written on the day he was apprised of the death of his son, Quentln, has been sent to every post of the American Legion, In the form of a specially prepared facsimile ef the original message. This letter was prepared pre-pared for the soldiers of America and was to be conveyed to them by Cass Connaway of Buffalo, N. Y., who was unable to deliver the words of Roosevelt Roose-velt because of war duties. Through the 11,000 posts of the American Legion Mr. Oonnaway has been able to complete distribution of the message, and It will be framed in Legion homes, presented to libraries and museums, that all Americans may read of the feelings of a fighter to the fighting men of America. Connaway was an attorney in Indianapolis Indian-apolis before the war. His two sons enlisted, and his wife took up Red Cross work. When he found he was the only one of the family not In service serv-ice he closed his office and volunteered as a "T" hut secretary, unable to enter the army on account of his age. Before he was ordered to France, Oonnaway conceived the idea of carrying carry-ing a message to the Iloosler boys at the front, telling them of now they would be welcomed on their return to the United States. Gov. James P. Goodrich of Indiana prepared a splendid splen-did message, as did Booth Tarkington, Meredith Nicholson, George Ade and other well-known Indlanans. Then Oonnaway enlarged on his original Idea and wrote to the governors of every state for similar words to the men of their commonwealths in the trenches of France. AU responded, and to these were added a tribute, penned In longhand, long-hand, by Cardinal Gibbons. On July 18, 1818, Mr. Oonnaway submitted sub-mitted his plan to former President Roosevelt The day following, Quentln, CONNAWAY bis son, was killed as he flew over the German lines, word being received In America July 17 of the death of the young aviator. Connaway sailed for Frauce and shortly after landing was assigned to duties with the legal division of the Y. M. C. A. He wus unable to send the message direct to the men at the front, but succeeded In having It printed In the Paris edition of the London Dully Times, though few of the fighters were privileged to see It. Continued duties with the "Y" as chief of the claims division, di-vision, Judge advocate and chief of the legal division held up delivery of the message. Connaway then returned to the United States and was separated from the service to become managing director of the Buffulo real estute board. . Still feeling his obligation for delivery deliv-ery of the words from Mr. Roosevelt, Connaway sought permission from Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., now assistant secretary of the navy, for authority to Issue the letter. Further permission wns obtained from the Roosevelt Memorial Me-morial association, which Is gathering mementoes for presentation at Roosevelt Roose-velt house In New York city, the birthplace birth-place of the president, and where the erlglnnl of the message will be placed Identical copies of the statement to the troops were prepared. Then the American Legion was appealed to as being the best means for distribution of the message and It went forward through the various posts of the organization. or-ganization. The message follows : "To the Soldiers of the American Expeditionary Forces Overseas: "I send my heartfelt greetings to you men at the front. You have made all of us who stay behind lift our heads high with pride by what you are doing. It Is you men, and only you nin, who are d.'.ng one vital work for the American people today. All good Americans at this time owe homage to the fighting men at the fighting front. What you are doing Is vital for the honor and the Interest, for the future fu-ture welfare, and for the very existence, ex-istence, of our republic; nnd you are also buttling for the liberty of every well-behaved civilized na-! na-! tlon, big or little, i "I congratulate you ri. the great good fortune that Is -s In that ,vn in iv have the chance to en-j en-j dure hardship and peril for n gre.it Ideal and to render to oi:r ?itintry I the greatest of all service. 1 would j give anjthlng to be over with you. I "Faithfully your, I "T11F.OI lOHIO ROUSKVF.LT." |
