ROADS OF REMEMBRANCE 



By G. A. Whipple 



'T'HE American Expeditionary Forces received many 

 impressions in Europe unrelated to war. One of 

 the most permanent and important of such impressions 

 was the striking beauty of French highways. Wherever 

 the American doughboy traveled in France, and he 

 traveled extensively by foot, army truck, and freight 

 car, he almost always found the highways lined with 

 trees trees that adorned the landscape and added a 

 pleasing diversity to the endless kilometers that spread 

 their network over the land. The American brought 

 back the. picture of this feature of the French country- 

 side and it will never fade from his mind. 



Our soldiers learned that trees mean a great deal to 

 Europeans, to the 

 individual and the 

 commonwealth, to 

 the educated and 

 the illiterate, the 

 rich and the poor 

 alike, that they are 

 held universally in 

 high economic and 

 aesthetic regard by 

 all the people. The 

 Roads of Remem- 

 brance movement 

 in this country is 

 to a considerable 

 extent, a reflection 

 of this gratuitous 

 education in the art 

 of landscape im- 

 l)rovement, of the 

 American soldier 

 in the world war. 



A large propor- 

 tion of the trees 

 that flank the roads 

 in France have 

 been planted many 

 years and for the most part are in full vigor and beauty 

 of maturity. This system of landscape beautification is 

 systematically maintained. Replacements are supplied 

 from conveniently located nurseries. In some sections, 

 even the crowns of the trees along the highways are 

 artistically trimmed and in all cases the lower branches 

 for a considerable distance up the trunk are cut off and 

 utilized for firewood. This pruning permits a clear view 

 of the surrounding country from every point as the trav- 

 eler passes along the highway. 



The Road of Remembrance as a memorial in this coun- 

 try is an idea well adaf)ted to its purpose because along 

 such roads the A. E. F. lived and worked and suffered the 

 hardships of war. Moreover, the adoption of such an 

 idea is a sincere compliment to the soil our warriors de- 



This fine road, shaded by noble poplars, indicates the kind of Road of Remem- 

 brance along which trees may be dedicated to the memory of soldiers of a large 

 commimity. Such plantings arc being made in many sections. 



fended, and to America's oldest and most honored friend 

 among nations. 



During the past two years there have been endeavors 

 in various parts of the United States to build Roads of 

 Remembrance. The movement received impetus in the 

 West through the advocacy of the Chicago Tribune last 

 year. In Louisiana a tree memorial along the Jefferson 

 Highway is being promoted. Patriotic and civic bodies 

 have given their moral endorsement and have offered 

 material assistance from time to time. The Lincoln 

 Highway Association is considering a trans-continental 

 planting plan and numerous municipalities and civic or- 

 ganizations have made substantial plantings. The 



American Forestry 

 Association, under 

 the leadership of 

 Charles Lathrop 

 Pack, started the 

 Roads of Remem- 

 brance idea in 1919 

 and has encour- 

 aged it vigorously 

 ever since, with 

 the result that it is 

 now evident that 

 the thought has 

 been so well plant- 

 ed that the coming 

 years will find 

 many of these 

 memorial roads in 

 every section of 

 the country. 



Probably the 

 nearest approach 

 to large, construc- 

 tive and systematic 

 planting has been 

 achieved by the 

 New York State 

 College of Forestry at Syracuse University. Prof. 

 Henry R. Francis, landscape engineer and head of the 

 I'iecreation Department at the college, has surveyed and 

 carefully mapped the main automobile route between 

 Syracuse and Utica. The survey was finished two years 

 ago as part of a contemplated plan to line this main 

 artery of travel between New York and Buffalo with 

 trees. 



It would be a great mistake to attempt such an im- 

 provement unless it is done properly. According to the 

 best scientific opinion the work involves an accurate 

 study of soil conditions, topography of the country, ob- 

 structions, and a due regard for the rights and desires of 

 the owners of property along the route. In fact, it is 

 impossible to put down in black and white any hard and 



Photograph by A. 

 TYPE OF ROAD OF REMEMBRANCE 



R. Shattuck 



