WAR MEMORIALS COUNCIL 



THE American Forestry Association is named a mem- 

 ber of the War Memorial Councils, just created by 

 Newton D. Baker, the Secretary of War, which will 

 have the work of marking and caring for the graves of 

 the soldier dead in France, and for the beautification of 

 the cemeteries in which they are placed. The plan is 

 to establish "American Fields of Honor," according to 

 Assistant Secretary Ralph Hayes, whose report was 

 adopted following his return from France. The organi- 

 zations composing the War Memorials Council are : 



National Fine Arts Commission, The American In- 

 stitute of Architects, The American Forestry Association, 

 The Seven Affiliated Welfare Organizations, The Ameri- 



700x900 meters) about the Romagne cemeterial plot. 



4. That the American Commission on Military Re- 

 mains be dissolved, by reason of the completion of its work. 



5. That headstones and markers be rigorously uni- 

 form and erected by the government; and that in the 

 making of permanent plots there be no segregation into 

 distinctive locations on the basis of rank. 



6. That an advisory War Memorials Council be ap- 

 pointed, having representatives from the several inter- 

 ested organizations and having committees on hostess 

 houses and commemorative art designs. 



7. That the War Department procure the advice of 

 the Committee on Commemorative Art of the War Mem- 



Xational Photo 



FOR AMERICAN "FIELDS OF HONOR" 



At the first meeting of the War Memorials Council, called by Newton D. Baker, the Secretary of War, the following attended: bottom row, 

 left to right, Edward Down, Jr., the American Institute of Architects; Charles Lathrop Pack, President of the American Forestry Association; 

 the Secretary of War; Bishop W. F. McDowell, the chairman; Col. Harry Cutler, Jewish Welfare Board; Col. C. C. Pierce, Graves Registration 

 Division War Department; Franklin D. O'lier, Commander American Legion. Back of them stand W. R. Castle, State Department; Miss Marion 

 Vlni ;c n t, Young Women's Christian Association; Miss Virginia Oakley, American Field of Honor Association; James A. Flaherty, Knights 

 of Columbus; Ralph Hayes, assistant to the Secretary of War. In the back row: Col. Edward J. Parker, Salvation Army; Father John J. 



Burke, National Catholic War Council 

 of Honor Association. 



P. S. Ridsdale, Executive Secretary American Forestry Association; W. E. Bailey, American Field 



can Legion, The Navy Department, The Quartermaster 

 Corps (Cemeterial Division), The War Plans Division of 

 the General Staff, Representatives from the families of 

 soldier dead. Within the Council there is to be a Commit- 

 tee on Hostess House Service, consisting of delegates from 

 the Welfare Organizations ; and a Committee on Memorial 

 and Decorative Art. The points in Mr. Hayes' report follow : 



1. That Romagne, Belleau and Suresnes be the perma- 

 nent American Fields of Honor in France. 



2. That those bodies not requested to be returned be 

 concentrated in the three locations named herein. 



3. That the United States acquire perpetual rights 

 for cemeterial purposes to a generous area (say 



orials Council in matters concerning the design of stat- 

 uary or structures to be erected overseas under the au- 

 thority or with the collaboration of the department ; and 

 that the co-operation of this committee be available for 

 these communities or societies wishing to consult it 

 concerning the form of proposed war memorials. 



This admirable suggestion on the part of Secretary 

 Baker is in line with the Memorial Tree Planting and 

 Roads of Remembrance ideas of the American Forestry 

 Association that have been adopted everywhere. The 

 possibilities for memorial highways and memorial tree 

 planting in France should result in "American Fields of 

 Honor," in which all citizens can take pride. 



