Jefferson Barracks Citizens Military Camps - Jeffersonian Yearbook (Lemay, MO)

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THE CALL OF THE CAMPS frequent coming of committees, men and women of prominence eager to see at first-hand the workings of this educa- tional effort of the Government, these Hschools in citizenship , as' President Coolidge so aptly termed them in his unqualified approval of the CMTC. The Catholic youth of the Nation listened when His Eminence Patrick Cardinal Hayes and many other high prelates of that hierarchy gave eloquent and con- vincing arguments for camp enrollment as inculcating Ha more virile patriotism and a keener interest in the need, in peace as well as in war, of a wise policy of national defense and security . The Protestant clergy and the leaders of the Jewish faith in like manner and with no signiicant exception urged young men to take advantage of the summer camps. RADIO INSTRUCTION is given in many camps by the Signal Corps. All denominations joined in giving emphasis to the religious life at each trainingiicenter. Chaplains of the Army and of the Reserve were detailed to furnish not merely the facility for public worship, but also the much more personal opportunity of private and individual conference for young men of all faiths. Ministers of every denomina- tion backed their approval by service and volunteered freely to help in the religious activities of the camps. Attendance in most cases was voluntary, but at some training centers the entire CMTC regiment marched to the place of weekly worship with bands playing the sacred processionals. Thousands of young men came thus to feel as intimate and sustaining a contact with the chaplains in the camp as with the pastor, priest or rabbi in their own home town. Youth, though restless and impa- tient, is quick to respond to wise direction and the universal endorsement of the CMTC has been no small infiuence in the yearly attendance. Candidates crowded to the summer camps for any one or more of these reasons: THE CMTC BAND-Every instrument has its votaries, especially the saxophone! Page Twenty-one v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v r.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.vmv.v.v.v.v.v.mv v v v v.vmv.v.v.v.v. 0

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THE CALL OF THE-CAMPS tif ToM R. WYLES Secretary, M TCA took the summer training for its direct effect on his own work and the corpor- ation which made it easy for him to attend have shared equally in the well- acknowledged results of increased eco- nomic efficiency. Endorsement of the CMTC by the leaders in American life was a vital factor in camp enrollment. Many young men went to the training centers because of hearty encouragement from men and women whose judgment they highly valued. They learned that the Presi- dent of the United States and thirty-two Governors had sent their sons to the CMTC. They noticed that the Secre- tary of War and high ranking officers of the Army reckoned the camps the best place for their own sons. Mothers knew that the Federation of Women,s Clubs stands by the principle of adequate defense for country. Fathers read that organized capital and organized labor were a unit in support of the camps.. Young men noted that senators and rep- resentatives in Congress made frequent inspection of the training centers and went home each year with the determin- ation to vote for larger appropriations. They measured public interest by the M.. . . Mem, X , . KEEP FIT is the motto of the CMTC. Mass calisthenics and ' d' 'd 1 ' ' scribed and results are noted by army surgeons. In lvl ua corrective exercises are pre' Page Twenty ' 'VV' vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv vv .v.1.v.v.v.v. , N. . . . .v. ,, l . . . . 0 . . l

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THE CALL OF :FI-IE CAM-ES f L 'Z 4 5 a desire for change, for physical development, for athletic training, for greater capacity, for advance- ment as students or employees, or because they responded to the judgment of men whom they respected and to the wishes of their own parents. Whatever expectation any young man had of the benefits to be derived at camp was realized by him in ample measure. Six years have demonstrated the value of the Citizens' Military Training Camps, for which there is no better proof than the increasing desire of young men to return for a second year, coupled with the unanimous approval of parents, who wel- come their sons back from these summer camps to find them better and stronger in mind, body and - spirit. The Government stands today firm in this dehnite pol- icy of voluntary T training- physical, PUSHBALL civic and military -of young men. lt offers in the CMTC no vacation in the sense of purposeless squandering of time in idle pursuits or useless diversions, such as indifferent youth may fancy. The camp schedule is not arduous, but for every hour there is a definite aim and occupa- tion. Military drill fills the mornings with short inter- vals for rest and for the ever-welcome milk period, wisely ordained for 'those still fast-growing youths. . Afternoons are de- 7 voted to a wide variety of sports and games, in one or more of which each candidate BASKETBALL must take his part. After a long day of out-door work ,and play, men welcome eagerly the recreation of the evening hours. The Hostess House, under the direction of sympathetic andexperienced women, affords the comforts and quiet enjoyment of a home or club. Chess and checkers, billiards and card games fill many a happy hour. Dances are organized at every training cen- ter with partners furnished by committees and clubs of neighboring communities. The Liberty Theater offers moving pictures with professional and amateur 'concerts and plays. Most camps have their own CMTC band and sometimes their own orchestra and dramatic and debating clubs. y From reveille to taps the program is full of earn- est work and. wholesome recreation, inciting each BROAD JUMP Page Twenzy-two W i . Q . v vv vv vvvvv v.v.v.v.v.vmv.v.v. I 4 I