In mid-June, the Legacy Initiative Project at Park Tudor School will publish a book: Major John G. Emery in World War I – Early Leader of The American Legion. We are indebted to alumna Susan Brandt (his granddaughter) and her family for allowing us to bring this important project to fruition after more than three years of work and research.

This monograph is based on Emery’s personal letters, military papers, journals, his personally authored American Legion magazine articles, and two albums of photographs. It offers an intimate look at soldiers' day-to-day life on the battlefields of France and their poignant encounters with French citizens in war-torn communities.

This hardcover 8 ½ x 11 book is 180 pages and includes an index. It features more than 250 of his photographs, dozens of original maps, personal letters, and reminiscences about his WWI experiences in the 18th Infantry, 1st Division, of the AEF.  After the war, Emery who was from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the 3rd commander of The American Legion. He led and similarly documented the Legion’s 250-man delegation to France in 1921.

Students with the Legacy Initiative Project were helpful in completing initial research into the 18th Infantry at the National Archives, as well as reviewing photographs and maps, and proofing materials.

John G. Emery’s extensive and remarkable WWI Collection adds significantly to the history of the 18th Infantry Regiment in the First Division. It is also important because it documents the American Legion’s pilgrimage to France in 1921 to dedicate memorials to the war dead. We are especially pleased that this book has received advance praise from numerous individuals, especially from organizations that relate to WWI history and The American Legion.

For more detailed information about pre-ordering this book, please contact Kathryn W. Lerch, editor. klerch@parktudor.org 

PRE-PUBLICATION ORDERS
Pre-publication price of the new book is $25.00 (not including shipping & handling) until May 30th. You may reserve copies by mailing a check for $25.00 each to Kathryn Lerch (711 E 58th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46220). Make your check payable to “Park Tudor School” with “Legacy Initiative” on the memo line. I will place an initial print-on-demand order for potential customers June 1. You will be notified by email when your order may be picked up my house (sometime after June 10th) or you may request it be mailed. (Media mail & handling fee is $5.00 for 1-2 books.)

Regular cost of the book after May 30 will be $29.95 (not including shipping & handling). Thank you for supporting this important project. The profits help pay for future publications. Earlier volumes from the Words of War series of anthologies are still available. These are listed on our website: parktudor.org/Legacy