Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0154Description
A black and white stereograph. Image is of soldiers marching thoruhg the street of Chicago before deployment. Above the image "W199 (Star)" is printed, below the image "19192 Thousands Marching, Thousands Watching Our National Army, Chicago, Aug. 4, 1917." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company Copyrighted, Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
19192
THOUSANDS MARCHING - OUR NATIONAL ARMY
This is a sight to bring pride to the heart of every American - our National army, thousands and thousands of stalwart men, from every rank of life, enlisted in the service of their country, sworn to defend its honor and its rights. These are the men who afterwards went to France and on many a bloody field, in many a despearte battle, rushed like a cyclone upon the German ranks, smashed throught their supposedly impregnable defenses, sent their troops reeling backward in defeat. Here our men are marching through the steets of one of our great cities.
In these ranks were poor and rich, educated and uneducated, native and foreign born, undergoing the same training, eating the same food, united in a common cause. For months they drilled and marched and countermarched until their muscles became like steel bands ; learned to use rifle, grenade and bayonet ; were welded into a fighting machine fit to cope with Germany's proud battalions.
These men went to war in grim and serious mood. They knew what hardhsips and horrors would be their lot. They knew that many of their number would fall on the soil of France; that many would return crippled for life; that many would suffer agony from grievous wounds. Yet knowing all this they went, willingly, because their country was menaced; because the liberties of mankind were at stake; because all they held most dear was in dagner. they went becasue they were patriots.
America had for these "boys" a sacred place in the inner shrine of her heart. They were bone of her bone, blood of her blood, Sons of Freedom, offering up their lives on the alter of their country.
Copyright by The Keystone CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection