Poster

To the Thirty-Second, 1943
From the Thirty-Second, 1918

Poem, "To the Thirty-Second, 1943 From the Thirty-Second, 1918," by Detroit News poet Anne Campbell. The poem is hand written in white on a black board backing. Faint pencil lines run vertically and horizontally on the board. The text of the poem is as follows:

"The sons of the Thirty-Second
Went valiantly forth to war.
They followed the bright Red Arrow
As we did, long years before.
Those men in their graves in Alsace,
Those heroes of the Argonne,
Feel pride in the Thirty-Second,
And rise up to say 'March on!'

We know what it means at Christmas -
The legion who saw the sea
Dividing us from our loved ones,
When we bled to keep you free -
We know how your thoughts turn homeward
At dinner on Christmas Day,
For the turkey we at was tasteless,
When we, too, were far away

What words can we say expressing
Our pride in the deeds you do?
You carry on our traditions;
We fight side by side with you.
Our thoughts follow you to battle;
We join your mother's prayer,
As you, in far-off New Guinea
The torchlight of freedom bear.

They said that the Thirty-Second
Could fight in the first World War,
But we are not much for bragging
Of all that has gone before.
And you who have followed after
Are like us, but we'll beat drums,
And do all your boasting for you!
God bless you, when Christmas comes!"