Jewish Men Killed in This War Honored; Roosevelt Sends Message

Homage to the men of Jewish faith in the armed forces who have lost their lives since the Japanese attack upon Pearl Harbor was paid here today at the 47th annual memorial service held under the auspices of the Jewish War Veterans at Temple Emanu-El.

President Roosevelt, in a message addressed to Benjamin Kaufman, national commander of the organization, stated that the men whose memory was mourned during the Service died as patriots and that "while there is a sadness in the hearts of those whose dear ones have given up their lives for their country, there is a gratitude of a nation for services well done."

The Jewish War Veterans of the United States, representing 250,000 veterans of the Jewish faith who fought for America in the last war and countless thousands of others who have borne arms for the United States, combined their annual Memorial Service with this year’s "I Am An American" Day celebration in order to stress the aims for which America is fighting.

United States Senator Scott W. Lucas, addressing the gathering, pointed out that in the past war Jews of America contributed more than 4% of the total of men serving in the armed forces and that 1,100 of them were cited for valor with 150 receiving the Distinguished Service Cross, while 6 were decorated with the Congressional Medal of Honor, the supreme token of American distinction for heroism. Commander Benjamin Kaufman, citing an ancient Hebrew admonition about proper conduct – "to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before Thy God" – stated that this admonition contained "the essential elements of humanity which were incorporated into the American Constitution by our founding fathers"

The Memorial Services were preceded by the traditional parade in which over 10,000 members, ladies of the auxiliary and youth groups from the units in the metropolitan area of the Jewish War Veterans participated.