Never before or since has such a line of martial marchers moved down Kansas City's streets as did for the American Legion parade at the time of their national convention here in late October and early November, 1921. Sixty thousand veterans, splendidly uniformed officers and men, with tanks and equipment from World War I, moved through the downtown streets to the brisk music of 85 bands and drum and bugle corps, and passed the reviewing stand at Eighteenth street and Grand avenue, before five of the world's greatest military and naval leaders. Present were Marshal Foch, commander-in-chief of the Allied forces; Admiral Earl Beatty, commanding the British navy; Baron Jacques, commander-in-chief of the Belgian army; Gen. Armando Diaz, commander-in-chief of the Italian army and our own Gen. John J. Pershing. Also on the stand were governors; Congressional Medal of Honor men; disabled veterans; Calvin Coolidge, vice-president of the United States; Admiral W.S. Sims; John W. Weeks, secretary of war; Edwin Denby, secretary of the navy; Rear Admiral Robert E. Coontz; Maj. Gen. J.A. Lejeune of the Marine Corps; John G. Emory, commander of the American Legion, and city and legion officials. Kansas City homes were opened to the distinguished guests and hotels were packed. Admiral Beatty was entertained at the R. A. Long home, Baron Jacques was the guest of Mr. And Mrs. J. W. Perry, General Diaz was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob L. Loose, Calvin Coolidge stayed at the Walter S. Dickey home and General Pershing and Marshal Foch and their staffs were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Kirkwood. Ground for the proposed Liberty Memorial, across from the Union Station on Pershing road, was dedicated during the convention. Kansas City Star, November 7, 1970 Photo Credit: Mrs. Sam Ray usually gives proper and correct credit to her source of material for the Post Card From Old Kansas City articles, but failed to do so Saturday on the one of the famous World War I Allied military chiefs who were here in 1921 for the dedication of the Liberty Memorial site.The young Kansas City photographer who made the picture became famous for catching this group of greats. His name was Moxie Hanley and for years he had a photograph shop on Tenth street between Grand and McGee. The Star had a long article when he passed away, about the very difficult feat he performed in getting this picture. Mrs. Harley Wyatt, Jr. Liberty, Kansas City Star, November 13, 1970 Five of the world's greatest military and naval leaders are pictured at the Liberty Memorial dedication in 1921. The dedication was held at the time of the American Legion convention here. More than 60,000 World War veterans, splendidly uniformed officers and men, with tanks and equipment, paraded through downtown streets.The old post card is printed at the request of John H. Bullard of 21 Montclair Drive, Jackson, Tenn., a member of the 129th Field Artillery, Battery D, which was under the command of Capt. Harry S. Truman. He writes: I hope you have a copy of the immortal picture of the dedication of the Liberty Memorial, a picture of Gen. John J. Pershing, Admiral David Beatty, General Diaz, General Jacques and Marshal Foch, chief of the Allied forces. Moxie Hanley of the Hanley Photo Co. at 10th and McGee took this picture. I saw Moxie take the picture from a vantage point by climbing a loudspeaker stationed near the podium.Captain Truman and several others of our old outfit were there, along with members of the 42nd Division, the old Rainbow Division, and also numbers of the 89th Division. At that time Captain Truman was a Jackson County judge and we were in the carpet business, the old Kansas City Carpet Co. at 1006 McGee. I sincerely hope you have the original picture of the above mentioned photo and can re-run it now as I know there would be wide and appreciated interest in the photo. Sincerely, John H. Bullard, Kansas City Times, November 7, 1980
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