Marshfield, December 1917: A season of supporting the troops
Marshfield’s World War I Red Cross membership drive a success
By Kris Leonhardt
Editor
In the midst of World War I and on the threshold of the holiday season, the American Red Cross launched a Christmas membership campaign. Using the slogan “Red Cross against the Iron Cross,” the organization sought 15 million new members nationwide to support men in war.
Cities and towns across the nation were asked to become a part of the campaign, an endeavor they willingly accepted. With their hearts and minds on their local soldiers, city leaders sprung into action on an effort that would demonstrate their brotherly love and commitment to the nation.
Launched in mid-December, Marshfield organizers had less than two weeks to meet the local quota by the Christmas Eve deadline.
Led by Charles Pors, Marshfield was divided into four sections with coordinators for each. R.J. Strauss was assigned the east side section, H.C. Eiche took the north side, F.H. Normington took the lead on the west side, and H.B. Parker oversaw the south side.
Their goal: 100 percent Red Cross membership in the city of Marshfield.
The men organized public membership rallies at the Trio and Adler theaters and encouraged residents to purchase memberships as Christmas gifts while reinforcing the sentiment that dues to help a wounded man would save two people: the wounded soldier and the one that would be required to take his place.
Service flags were distributed to individuals who paid their 1918 dues to hang in the front window of their homes. For each additional membership paid by a family member, the household was given a service cross to add to the flag. If every family member joined, the household was given a Hundred Percent Flag to reflect the generous support.
Local merchants who paid to support the Red Cross were given a flag similar to the Hundred Percent Flag but in a larger size for their storefront window.
On Christmas Eve, households placed candles behind each of the Red Cross service flags in support of the service men still in the trenches overseas.
When the Christmas holiday came to an end, the membership numbers were tallied, and unlike surrounding municipalities, Marshfield had significantly surpassed its quota. With 2,018 paid Red Cross membership dues totaling $2,500, they had surpassed the quota by 500 members.
In addition, the business district had nearly attained the 100 percent mark among merchants.
Surrounding cities lengthened their membership campaign in an attempt to reach their goals.
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