MEMORIAL TREES 109 



went to the defence of civilization. Throughout America 

 and in foreign countries the response has spread on a 

 growing wave of human approval. Among the Allied 

 Nations, as in the United States, the people have been 

 quick to recognize the appropriateness of the living 

 monument, and to join with America in the planting of 

 memorial trees. 



The movement had its birth with the signing of the 

 Armistice, when the people of the United States adopted 

 the tree as their token of tribute. The idea was taken up 

 promptly by officials, by organizations, by the nation's 

 editors and by the people. Memorial tree planting had 

 become an established custom before our troops were 

 withdrawn from the camps of France. When General 

 Pershing reached this country after his brilliant leadership 

 of the American Expeditionary Forces, among his first 

 acts was the planting of memorial trees in Central Park, 

 New York, and in Independence Square, Philadelphia. 

 Dedicated to the soldier dead by their commander, these 

 trees will stand forth to future generations as noble 

 sentinels of a noble chapter in American history. Two 

 years later he carried the message of the memorial tree 

 overseas, and on French soil planted an Oak in the Troca- 

 dero gardens, to symbolize America's homage to the soldier 

 dead of France. 



The American Legion responded with the same spirit 

 which moved the great general. The organization is tak 

 ing a leading part in cooperating with the American Tree 

 Association in spreading the claims of the memorial tree 

 and in active planting of these living monuments. In 

 orders to posts throughout the world the Legion early 

 threw its influence to the movement, and from everywhere 

 come reports of tree planting by the Legionnaires in 

 tribute to their comrades-at-arms. A pioneer in this 



