MERIDIAN — The 4th of July weekend is here and we celebrate.  There are no rules to limit our celebrations because we are free to choose as long as we are law abiding. Others paid the price of freedom and we celebrate. Brave soldiers continue to pay the price of freedom and we continue to celebrate because we are free, BUT – Freedom is Not Free.

    There is a monument located in downtown Meridian, where Sixth and Seventh Streets and 23rd Avenue come together. It is The Doughboy Monument dedicated to the T. C. Carter American Legion Post #21 located here.  The small park has a rubble base shrine, wrought iron entry gate, a bronze plaque inside the shrine with the bronze doughboy sculpture atop the base. It was erected on November 11, 1927.  The monument, officially titled “Spirit of the American Doughboy,” was made to honor those who served in World War I. Sculptor Ernest Moore Viquesney created the statue in 1921. Throughout the United States, there are more than 130 Doughboy Monuments standing on courthouse lawns, town squares, parks, and cemeteries – small towns or large cities, it doesn’t matter the size of the community, but that the community has a heart for patriotism.

    We celebrate because we are free. . . .

    I admit there have been times that I scooted around downtown and never raised my eyes to commemorate our ‘Doughboy.’  Oh, sure, I knew he was there.  The perpetual motion shown with his left boot placed firmly on the ground, right toe touching the ground, and the rest of the boot upraised in a marching pose. The right arm uplifted, holding a hand grenade, and the left hand clutched a rifle with bayonet pointed horizontally.  Yes, that was hard to miss, but some days I did miss it.

    T. C. Carter, Jr. was an acting company commander of the 320th Machine Gun Battalion during WW I. Prior to enlisting for service in World War I, Carter attended Marion Military Institute (1906-1908), Marion, Alabama, and the University of Virginia. 1st Lieutenant Carter was killed in 1918 in the Argonne Forest located in France. At the time, he was checking for enemy gun emplacements. He was buried nearby on that October day. In 1921, his remains were removed to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The American Legion Post #21, Meridian, Mississippi, is named in his honor. They also have the flag which covered his casket at Arlington.

    1st Lieutenant Carter was a real American hero.  If you would like to know more about this gallant American, Ward Calhoun, Director, Lauderdale County Department of Archives and History has written a book entitled “The Carter and Crumpton Families of Mississippi and Alabama: A Narrative and Photographic History.” The book is available at the archives.

    We celebrate because we are free. . . .

    The magnificent history of the American Legion is a testament of American patriotism. The American Legion was organized by a group of twenty officers who served in the AEF, the American Expeditionary Forces in France during World War I. It was an effort to improve troop morale. A temporary committee was formed in 1919. The meeting took place in Paris in March. There were about 1,000 soldiers in attendance.  The meeting, known as the Paris Caucus, adopted a temporary constitution and the name The American Legion. A second organizational meeting was held in May 1919 at St. Louis, Missouri.  The first post of the American Legion is the George Washington Post I in Washington, D.C.  The U. S. Congress granted the organization a national charter in September 1919. The first national convention of the American Legion was held November, 1919 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At this time a permanent constitution was completed and the election of officers held. Throughout the years, the American Legion worked tirelessly to uphold the respect and dignity of the American soldier.  It was instrumental in the creation of the U.S. Veterans’ Bureau now known as the Department of Veterans Affairs.  The Sons of the American Legion formed at the American Legion’s 14th National Convention, September, 1932.  Later, in 1938, the American Legion supported the first National High School Oratorical Contest. During the 1940s, the group helped to establish the G. I. Bill. During the 1990s, veteran motorcycle enthusiasts formed the American Legion Riders.  By 2009, the American Legion Riders program had grown to over 1,000 chapters and 100,000 members in the United States and overseas.



Membership eligibility requirements:



    The membership is limited to those honorably discharged veterans and current personnel of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force who served at least one day of active duty during any of the following periods.

World War I:  April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918.

World War II:  December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946.

Korean War: June 25, 1950, to January 31, 1955.

Vietnam War:  February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975.

1982 Lebanon War and Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada): August 24, 1982, to July 31, 1984.

Operation Just Cause (Panama):  December 20, 1989, to January 31, 1990.

Gulf War (Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom): August 2, 1990, through present, and continuing until cessation of hostilities as determined by the U.S. government.  Open eligibility applies to all current active-duty service members.

    Today, the membership is near 3 million.  The American Legion headquarters is located at Indianapolis, Indiana. Web site: http://www.legion.org/

    Yes, I knew the Doughboy Soldier was there guarding downtown Meridian, but you see I was busy. I paid more attention to the traffic light and the people on the street than to the soldier.  It won’t happen again.  I hope that through this column you will be encouraged to spend a few minutes thinking of our freedom and those who paid the price.

    This weekend, we celebrate because we are free.



Thomas Clay Carter, Jr.

1st Lieutenant

320 Machine Gun Battalion

Meridian, Mississippi

February 16, 1889

Argonne Forest France

October 13, 1918

 

    Anne B. McKee is an author and storyteller. She lives in Meridian.  Anne is listed on the Mississippi Artist Roster, sponsored by Mississippi Arts Commission, as a dramatic and literary artist and as a Teaching Artist.  She is active with the arts and educational communities throughout Mississippi. Visit her web site: www.annemckee.net