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[[newspaper clipping and 4 images]]

BY RUTH LAW
Honorary Member, Aerial League of America

THERE are few Americans who can resist the longing to do something to help in the present crisis. Everyone wants to do his or her "bit." The one great difficulty is, What can we do?
 On returning to this country April 4, 1917, after having spent the winter in France and England studying military aviation, my one desire was to do something too. Everybody "over there" was working hard for victory. Men, women, and even children, were doing their part. America had only just joined the Allies and our Army was just about as small as it could be and still be called an Army. The draft bill had not yet been passed and every possible means was being used to induce young men to enlist voluntarily.
 Recruiting seemed to be the greatest need of the moment; so I volunteered to do my "bit" in that branch of the Service. Recruiting by aeroplane was a novelty that Major Franklin R. Henney, Chief Recruiting Officer at Chicago, had not thought of and he gladly accepted my proffered services and gave me special permission to wear the U. S. Army uniform.
 The first flight of my campaign for recruits was given at Grant Park, Chicago, the night of July 25, 1917. The British and American recruiting forces were having a special one-week drive and on the occasion I had fastened to the lower plane of my aeroplane the word "Enlist" done in brilliant electric letters. The sign was 28 feet long by 4 feet high and could be read in the sky for miles. As the band in the park played national airs, streams of white fire floated from my aeroplane over the heads of the thousands of watchers below. After the flight Major Henney, U. S. A., and Col. Hamieson, of the British Mission, presented me with a beautiful gold wrist watch and stated that the fiery appeal to enlist from the sky was the most inspiring spectacle that they had ever witnessed. I am also the proud possessor of a beautiful silk British flag presented to me by the Officers of the British Recruiting Mission in recognition of the assistance I had rendered them in their recruiting work.
 Every time my aeroplane has left the ground this year at the big State Fairs where I have flown throughout the Middle West, the first thing the people see as I sail up over their heads is "Enlist" painted in big black letters the full length of the lower plane and a shower of little white cards come fluttering down from the sky telling those who eagerly scramble for them the desirability of enlisting and fighting for their flag.
 My messages from the sky have reached millions of people through many large cities and I have the satisfaction of knowing that I have encouraged thousands to join the Army, many having been accepted in the Aviation Corps.
 Although I have helped many young men to enlist their services for their country, I am unable to enlist myself in the U. S. Flying Corps. They all agree that I can fly, but they can't understand at Washington why a woman should want to go to France and fight in an aeroplane.
 They can't understand that a woman may have the same desire to serve her country as a man and that perhaps flying is the very work that she can do best.
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From left to right: Colonel Jamieson, British Army, and Major Kenney, U.S. Army, congratulating Ruth Law for her able patriotic work. 
Dear Miss Law - Imagine this turning up at the General Headquarters Am. E.F. France Best Wishes  May 12/18 - F.R. Kenney A.S. [[?]]

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Gen. Williams entertaining Ruth Law at army camp. Hattisburg Miss.

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Ruth Law flying at Army Camps to entertain the soldiers.

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Col. Franklin R. Kenney, U.S. Army, thanking Ruth Law for her work in aiding recruiting.

Transcription Notes:
[[image: photo of Ruth Hall flying at army camp]] [[image: photo of airplane parked on the ground with soldiers around it]] [[image: photo of Ruth hall standing in front of the airplane along with three other soldiers]] [[image: photo of Col. Franklin R. Kenney facing Ruth Hall and grasping her hand, thanking her]]