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PAGE FOUR   THE BRIDGEHEAD SENTINEL   SEPTEMBER, 1943

Below is a picture of the First Artillery Brigade, 5th, 6th and 7th Field Artillery, loaned to the Society by Paul Collins, Editor and Publisher of Veterans Sentry, 246 I.W. Hellman Bldg., Los Angeles, Calif.

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FIRST FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION A.E.F.

Below is the tribute paid to the late Merle D. Hay, one of the first three men killed in action in World War I. If anyone has any records pertaining to the event in which Hay lost his life, please communicate with Miss Katherine Delaney, 619 East Third St., Carrol Iowa. The event mentioned was the First Raid made by the Germans on the American positions Nov. 4, 1917.

Tribute To Merle D. Hay

Like gentle breezes through misty twilight comes to me the memory of a brown-eyed, barefoot country lad, entering at morn the wayside school, surrounded by God's own fields and flowers.

The smiling lips and glowing eyes seem to express the visions of his youthful dreams, while he builds in the future fairy castles of the life to be.

His school life is filled with lessons and play the same as countless other lads and lassies whose bare feet patter down the same old path to school, chasing meanwhile the butterfly and the bee.

Least of my dreams was the thought that the childish hand of Merle Hay which I held while I guided it through troublesome writing lessons, would one day strike in defense of his country and his flag, and one day in sunny France he would lie at rest, world renowned and a hero, his name upon the lips of millions.

His passing for our cause has given to a mother a glorious tribute, to God and country an immortal character, a pure and chivalrous soul. A teacher often fails to realize that she has within her keeping the most sacred trust ever given to mortals, that of filling youth's tender years, with manhood and womanhood's highest ideals, of loyalty to God, home and country.

We can call ourselves blessed indeed when we are worthy to say, "I helped to build and mold that beautiful character "which has scaled the heights and planted thereon the banner of victory. And so it has been my good fortune to be among those who have been a teacher to Merle Hay.
K. D. 
Nov. 4, 1917.

Branches of the Society

In the message of our President he suggests the following:

"Let me urge that all our veterans unite with the Branch Societies and gather often to find renewed faith and strength in the spirit of comradeship which is our privileged inheritance."

It is this in mind, when it is asked to have these gatherings to take the place of our reunions which have to be cancelled due to the war efforts and lack of transportation. It will be noted that none of our Branches have offered anything for publication in this issue, but I can safely say that from all reports they are getting along very nicely.

Many of our members have inquired where a copy of the History of the First Division can be obtained. I have a letter from Chief Justice George W. Maxey who states that he obtained one from "The Seven Bookhunters", Station "O", Box 22, New York City, N.Y., and if anyone still desires a copy to communicate with them as they have never failed to get books desired by the Chief justice.

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[[image: photograph. tanks, soldiers, etc.]] - pls read instructions on images ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-13 15:45:35 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-15 10:08:04