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AUGUST 2?. 1936 THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA THREE Kilmer Memorial Forest Dedicated in North Carolina N ; President’s Message The following telegram from Pres ident Franklin D. Roosevelt was read at the dedication of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest near Rob- binsville, N. C.: “I have learned with much inter est of plans for the dedication of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. It is particularly fitting that a poet who W'ill always be remembered for the tribute he embodied in ‘Trees’ should find this living monument. Thus is his beloved memory for ever honored and one of nature’s master pieces is set aside to be preserved for the enjoyment of generations yet unborn.” (Special to The Bulletin) ROBBINSVILLE, N. C.—Eighteen years ago, July 30, 1918, a sniper’s bullet closed the earthly career of Joyce Kilmer, at the battle front in France; on that date this year friends of the beloved poet gathered in the mountains of Western North Caro lina to dedicate to his memory a vir gin tract of timber, to be known of ficially as the Joyce Kilmer Me morial Forest. Joyce Kilmer’s “Trees” is but one of the many poems on which his literary fame rests, many of them permeated by his deep devotion to his Catholic faith, but it is not only his best known work but perhaps the best known poem of any poet since the turn of the century; that fact, Kilmer’s love of nature and his untimely death in another forest, the Wood of the Burned Bridge, made this unique memorial in the moun tains, practically untouched by the hand of man, particularly appro priate. CHARLES MCDONALD PUC- KETTE, Joyce Kilmer’s associate on The New York Times, told of “Joyce Kilmer the Writer”, Paul A. Williams, of New York City, chairman of the Kilmer Memorial Association, spoke on “Joyce Kilmer the Soldier”. How ard B. Waha, of the U. S. Forest Service, Atlanta, sang “Trees”, Jo seph C. Kircher, of Atlanta, regional forest, and Lieut. John McCloy, U. S- N., retired, commander of t he Bozeman Bugler Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, New York, unveiled the plaque. Mr. Williams was master of ceremonies. The Bozeman Bulger Post of New York, composed for the most part of newspapermen who were personal friends of Kilmer, launched the idea of the memorial forest at the national convention in Louisville, Ky., some time ago, interested the Department of Agriculture in it, and brought the project to a successful conclusion after its approval. FATHER JOHN B. KELLY, chap lain of the Post and of the Catholic Writers’ Guild, who has been in tensely interested in the undertaking and most helpful to it, contributed a touching poem to the program, and the dedicatory address of E. A. Sher man, assistant chief of the U. S. For estry Service, was read by W. R- Pad- dock. supervisor of Nantahala Na tional Forest. In his remarks unveiling the plaque, Lieutenant McCloy said: “You may be interested to learn how Mrs. Joyce Kilmer feels about it. In a letter regretting that she could not join us today, she said: ‘I know of no form of tribute to Joyce that could appeal to me more’.” The memorial forest, 3,840 acres in extent, is located in Graham County, Western North Carolina, about 14 miles from Robbinsville. A forest service road leads from Robbinsville to the boundary of the forest, just be yond the junction of the Big and Little Santeetlah creeks. The road ends in a parking space, and from there a simple trail leads to the heart of the forest, where the boulder with the Kilmer plaque stands. MR. WILLIAMS, chairman, Kilmer Memorial Committee, recalled that on April 23, 1917—just seventeen days after the United States entered the World War—Joyce Kilmer left The New York Times and enlisted as a private in the Seventh Regiment, New York National Guard. “Shortly before the Regiment left for Spartanburg, S. C., Joyce Kilmer was transferred to the 165th Infantry at Camp Mills, Long Island- There he was with his good friend the late Father Duffy, who was chaplain of the regiment. Kilmer was the senior regimental statistician when his out fit sailed for France in October, 1917. That job would keep him close to Regimental Headquraters and was what the Army called a ‘soft berth’. Exactly for that reason, Kilmer was dissatisfied. He wanted to be in the front lines where the action was, and —Photo by Elliott Lyman Fisher—Courtesy of Ashville Citizens-Times , , , . , , . , , , ^ On this boulder in the heart of the big timber in the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest a bronze plaque to the beloved poet has been placed „ p°; k is the natural terminus of a footpath that leads into the big timber from a parking space just beyond the bounds of the memorial forest. W. n. raa- dock of Franklin, supervisor of the Nantahala National Forest, is standing by the rock. Gen. Harbord Wires The Kilmer Plaque his insistence led to his transfer to the Regimental Intelligence Staff. As a sergeant on the intelligence staff he displayed fidelity and courage that won for him the highest respect from all with whom he served. “Just eighteen years ago today, Joyce Kilmer was in the scarred and shattered timber they still called Wood of the Burned Bridge trying to locate enemy machine gun nests. Not more than thirty feet away was Major William J. Donovan, who later com manded the Regiment. When it came time to move, the Major called to Kil- ber, but received no answer. A sniper’s bullet had sealed those lips forever. He was buried in Bois Colas” The Kilmer forest has been de scribed as the only forest of its kind in the nation. Through some lavish- ment of nature the forest has been endowed' with groves of huge poplar trees, some as large as 80 inches in diameter and more than 20 feet in circumference. There also are equally mangicient hemlocks, red oaks, and other varieties of trees. Because of its isolation, the forest was never used for lumbering purposes and contains today the finest collection of huge poplar trees in America. DR. FRANCIS J. QUINLAN, na tionally famed as a specialist in the diseases of the ear, eye and throat, and recipient of the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame in 1906, is dead in New York. Dr. Quinlan was a Knight Commander of St. Gregory, General James G. Harbord, who was chief of staff of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, sends the following telegram to the Joyce Kilmer dedication ceremonies in North Carolina: “Sorry illness of my wife prevents my presence at the services in honor of Joyce Kilmer, Christian soldier and poet, whose gallant death, fight ing in the Rainbow division 18 years ago. stirred the. Christian world. This memorial forest will forever pre serve the memory of one who loved his country and met death unafraid. I congratulate you, my friend Father Kelly, and others who have brought the plan to sucess.” JOYCE KILMER MEMORIAL FOREST Dedicated July 30, 1936. Joyce Kilmer , 165th Infantry, Rainbow Division, soldier and poet, author of “Trees”, bom in New Brunswick, N. J., December 6, 1886 killed in action in France July 30, 1918. This memorial was initiated by Bozeman Bulger Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was selected by the U. S. Forest Service, GREAT TIMBER TRACT DEDICATED TO THE AUTHOR OF ‘TREES’ President Roosevelt and Other Notables Join in Tribute to Beloved Cath olic Poet and Soldier —(Photo by Elliott Lyman Fish er—Courtesy of Ashville Citizen-Times This huge poplar tree, over six feet in diameter and twenty feet in cir cumference, is typical of the great poplars which abound in the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. The men at the base of the tree give some idea of its size. TREES By Joyc e Kilmer I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in Summer wear A nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosoms snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree. JOYCE KILMER By FATHER JOHN B. KELLY As once a tree in Eden's thrall Bore fruit that brought black death to all, So may the tree that died for Christ Raise up the doomed, their debt sufficed. God prompt all men to share full love With trees that seek the Light above, And bless the bard who sang their praise In lilt ordained to live all days. May he who dwelt with birds of air To learn their lays in tree tops fair. Teach us to chant, as they, the songs That charm for ay the heaven’s throngs' The Veterans of Foreign Wars Know well the price of battle scars. May every tree breathe grateful prayers? That Kilmer’s peace be ever theirs. In the Kilmer Memorial Forest in North Carolina