[Letterhead]
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Mrs. Geo. A. Holderness
Mrs. W. D. Leggert
Mrs. Geo. Howard
Mrs. M. Heilbroner
Mrs. Henry Clark Bridgers
S. S. Nash
W. G. Clark
C. A. Johnson
J. E. Simmons
T. B. Jacocks
HOME SERVICE DEPARTMENT
Hon. J. P. Keech...Chairman
Miss Louise King . Secretary
COMMITTEE ON HOME NURSING
Mrs. R. I. Farrar .. Chairman
Miss Clara Ross, R. N.
Public Health Nurse
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EDGECOMBE CHAPTER
Dr. Julian M. Baker, Chairman
Miss Rena Clark, Vice-Chairman
Mrs. Jacksie Daniel Thrash
Secretary
M. G. Mann, . . . Treasurer
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EDGECOMBE CHAPTER
Tarboro, N. C.
[text, centered] HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE CHAPTER, AMERICAN RED CROSS, TARBORO, N. C.
1917-1919.
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[indent] Following the declaration by the Congress of the United
States that a state of war existed between this Government and
the Imperial Government of Germany, April 7, 1917, a wave of
enthusiastic patriotism swept over the whole country and found
a ready response to the call to arms, with all of its accompany-
claimed and sympathetically welcomed, than in Edgecombe
County, North Carolina.
[indent] Many of its sons immediately volunteered, and were inducted
into service; while many others, who for good and sufficient
reasons could not enlist in active service, were impelled by the
same spirit of loyalty, patriotism and humnaity to enlist in the
service by undertaking to alleviate, as far as possible, the many
horrors of war, which all knew so well would inevitably come; and
to contribute to whatever was in their power to comfort, and encourage
those who were foresaking home and friends to fight the battles of
their country in a foreign land.
[indent] One result of this compelling impulse to serve found expression
in immediate steps being taken to organize under the banner of the
American Red Cross, believing that this great organization with
its devotion to the cause of suffering humanity, and its record
of great achievement in the past would be a guarantee, that through
its agency and co-operation with the combatant armies, it would be
a factor, not less important, than that of actually firing the guns
in the front lines, in achieving the great victory over Prussianism,
Kultur and barbarity, and in saving the Christian civilazation of
the world, so directly threatened, and for which nearly the whole
world was praying and striving.
[indent] Accordingly steps were at once taken to comply with the technical
details of organization, but unfortunately at the very beginning some
conflict of effort became manifest, on account of a few ladies consti-
tutuing the organization of the Daughters of the American Revoluation
attempting to secure the necessary authority from the National Organ-
ization to organize locally, with only members of that organization as members. This misconception of the aims and scope of the National
