Mother’s Day, 1918

Alan
Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:01:09 +0000
Uncategorized, Mother's Day, WWI

Army P.O. #704,
Sunday May 12, 1918.

My Dear Mother,

I wrote sister a letter yesterday and addressed it to Hamburg so you will probably get this at the same time, but I want you to know that I remembered you on Mother’s Day. I always wear a red rose when I can get them on that day, but they are not to be had today. This morning we received a telegram from Ge. Pershing’s headquarters which is as follows: “I wish that every officer and soldier of the American Expeditionary Forces would write a letter home on Mother’s day. This is a little thing to do, but the letters will carry back our courage and affection to patriotic women whose love and courage will inspire and cheer us on to victory.”

Mother's Day, 1918

A number of the men had already written to their mothers but when this telegram was read to them the rest of the men picked up their pens and stationery. The word “Mother” on the outside carries the letter as a special delivery letter.

You can rest assured that everything is going well with me and that I am not in a dangerous location. We have not been visited by the German planes as yet and there are reasons to believe that they will not come our way as we are located at a post where the artillery is trained. The aircraft defense is good and I think our squadron is capable of bringing a plane down even though we did not have the large guns close by.

I hope that when the next Mother’s Day comes that we will all be back in the states and can see our mothers on that day. This should be a Father’s Day as well as a Mother’s but one cannot think of the mothers without thinking of their fathers.

With love to all and assuring you that I am in excellent health and that there is no reason for you to worry, I am,

Always,

Walter