To the Soldiers of the National Army

To the Soldiers of the National Army

You are undertaking a great duty. The heart of the whole

country is with you. Everything that you do will be watched

with the deepest solicitude not only by those who are near and

dear to you, but by the whole Nation besides. For this great

war draws us all together, makes us all comrades and brothers,

as all true Americans felt themselves to be when we first made

good our national independence. The eyes of all the world will

be upon you, because you are in some special sense the soldiers

of freedom.

Let it be your pride, therefore, to show all men everywhere

not only what good soldiers you are, but also what good men

you are, keeping yourselves fit and straight in everything, and

pure and clean through and through. Let us set for ourselves a

standard so high that it will be a glory to live up to it, and then

let us live up to it and add a new laurel to the crown of America.

My affectionate confidence goes with you in every battle and

every test. God keep and guide you!

The White House, Washington Woodrow Wilson.