A peaceful people, we watched the fires to the east and to the west burn and
consume.  Finally, as they must, they burned nearer and nearer until there was a sud-
den explosion and we were caught between the fires which we had both ignored
and fed at once.

Out of the chaos that was America in those early days of the war came men with
one thought and one idea foremost in their minds: "The war will be won in the air;
and, Airmen we will be, if it is necessary for the salvation of our culture."

And the worth of that culture was proven even in their so doing.  For these men
were not men of a certain type or class - they were not rich men's sons nor poor; not
of a particular race or color or creed or distinction or occupation or education.  Few
backgrounds were similar, none alike.  They were barbers, college professors, railroad

steamfitters, store managers, and all the God-know-what-men that go to make up
America and Democracy and this culture for which they saw a need.  The word cul-
ture, through misuse, has come to mean something pretty indefinite if not vague.  But
culture it is that they are striving for - a way of life - not perfect perhaps, but better
by far than anything else to date.

A message?  If we have one it is a prayer.  A prayer to the "builders."  Our
part in the play is action.  But when this part is over, then will begin the more im-
portant and infinitely more difficult task of building a world worth the price we've
paid.  Our message, then, is: first, a request not for the waste-landers and cynics
that were born out of the last war, but men who will take what materials and condi-
tions we give them and on the basis of justice and Charity build the democratic
world that we seek.  We ask a world of justice for the worthy as well as for the vi-
cious; a world without empire in any sense of the word.  In short, what we seek is a
workable democratic world with the strength of Sampson and the love and gentility
of Ruth.

This we ask of the builders; this will repay us ten-fold for all our petty sufferings;
this we ask.  Do not fail us!