CHARLOTTE PLANTS MEMORIAL PARK FOR VETERANS 



pHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN, has turned eighteen 

 ^^ acres of unused land into a memorial park, and has 

 set a fine example to other towns. In this park is a boul- 

 der, around which have beeui planted thirty-three gold 

 star trees for the men of Eaton County. There are wind- 

 ing roads and shrub-lined paths that make a beauty spot. 

 Charlotte thus tries to show to the world the glory of 

 those who fought for her in the World War. She will 

 not parade her mourning for that is a private affair with 

 the individual. In this plot, known as the United States 

 Veterals' Memorial Park, Mayor George M. Fenn, Sr., 

 informs the association that seven thousand seven-year-old 

 white pines have been planted. Then, too, there are a 

 thousand hardwood trees, mostly maple and elm. Scat- 

 tered about are one hundred butternuts and one hundred 

 black walnuts. The roads in the park are lined with 



tomorrow. Charlotte has placed before her future citi- 

 zens and the world a memorial well worth while. 



One of the last public acts of Col. F. W. Galbraith, 

 Jr., commander of the American Legion, before he was 

 killed in an automobile accident, was the planting of 

 memorial trees at the intersection of the Dixie and the 

 National Highway at Vandalia, Ohio. The planting of 

 the memorial trees was a part of America Day program 

 in which Col. Galbraith had made a rousing Americaniza- 

 tion speech. 



Fifteen American elms were placed. This step signifies 

 Dayton's cooperation in the campaign launched by 

 the American Forestry Association to beautify the high- 

 ways with trees. Tributes to the "unknown dead," to the 

 fallen soldiers, sailors and marines were expressed in 



Photograph by Roehm 



GOOD EXAMPLE SET BY CHARLOTTE 



What was once a tract of land that nobody bragged about is now a beautiful memorial park. The work was done by the pupils 

 of the schools and the citizens of Charlotte. The American Legion had a big part in the ceremony and Mayor Geo. M. Fenn, Sr., 

 was one of the speakers. In the tract seven thousand seven-year-old white pines, one thousand hardwood trees, maple and elm, 

 one hundred black walnuts, one hundred butternut trees and a grove of red oaks were placed. In the center of the red oak grove is 

 a memorial stone in honor of the men from Eaton County who did not come back after answering their country's call to the World 

 War. There are thirty three of these memorial trees which Mayor Fenn has registered on the national honor roll of the Amer- 

 ican Forestry Association. The roadways through the park have been laid out and lined with varieties of shrubbery while a 

 hedge runs along the side of the park, which adjoins the main street of the town. In the years to come Charlotte will have a 

 memorial she will be proud of, for it is one in the creation of which all her citizens had a part. 



honeysuckle, lilacs, the flowering quince and other va- 

 rieties. The city of Charlotte has done well, much better 

 than by the erection of a stone shaft. Here Charlotte 

 sees the consummation of community endeavor, for it was 

 the community that did the work. Here each year Char- 

 lotte can rededicate herself to the ideals for which her 

 sons fought. Here Charlotte can gather and take up any 

 question of community endeavor. Her work has just 

 begun. The children and the young men of the Ameri- 

 can Legion and other organizations, that had part in the 

 park dedication, will be the citizens and the veterans of 



the four trees representing the Dayton branch of the 

 American Forestry Association. A fifth, offered by the 

 Burroughs Nature Study Club, was dedicated to the 

 memory of nurses. 



Uniformed troops of Boy and Girl Scouts were present 

 at the ceremonies, in which the Dayton Federation of 

 Women's Clubs, the Horticultural Society, Rotary and 

 Kiwanis Clubs, Advance Club, Woman's Press Club, 

 Council of Jewish Women, the Aurean and Geographical 

 Societies of Steele High School and Vandalia were rep- 

 resented. 



