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Byrl Sylvester, Plainview young man who recently returned from Verdun battle front, where he was wounded, was the principal speaker at a mass meeting in St. Charles last evening, the purpose of which was to add impetus to the YMCA war fund campaign. In his talk, Mr. Sylvester described his experiences in the early part of June on arrival in France, his preparation for the ambulance service, his various assignments in the Verdun sector, his impressions while under shell-fire, his treatment after being wounded, his presence in a base hospital which was bombed on eight evenings during two weeks, his final transfer to Paris, and the delight with which he set foot again on American soil. Throughout his talk he made frequent and commendatory reference to the work of the YMCA. Mr. Sylvester is practically recovered from his wound in the thigh and in the shoulder, although he still uses a cane. He will speak again at the Lewiston meeting in this county, tonight. He states that his only object in these meetings is for the benefit of the boys at the front who he knows will later profit by the funds which are secured as a result of such programs.
Sylvester in City; Will Give Address Here Soon Byrl Sylvester, Plainview young man who was wounded on the French battle front in September and who returned only recently, has been asked to speak in Rochester on the evening of Wednesday November 23. Sylvester, who is known to many in Rochester, is in the city today as the guest of Glenn Witherstine. He speaks in Winona Tuesday Nov. 22, and it is probable that he can come to this city the following day. Ever since returning from the Verdun front, where he was an ambulance driver, Sylvester has been in great demand in the southern part of the state. Dozens of communities have asked him to give an account of his experiences and for the past week he has been speaking almost continually. This week he has spoken to large audiences at St. Charles and Lewiston. Mr. Sylvester was greeted enthusiastically by his many friends in the city upon his arrival here this afternoon. This evening he will be the honored guest at a formal dinner party to be given by Glenn Witherstine. Later in the evening Sylvester will be honored at a formal dancing party given by Miss Ione Van Dusen at her home on East Fifth Street.
Sylvester Limping from Wounds, Wearing French War Cross, Arrives at Plainview Limping slightly from the wounds received while driving an ambulance on the Verdun battlefields, and wearing the French war cross as a mark of bravery, Byrl Sylvester reached his home in Plainview last Saturday evening. Sylvester, who is well known in Rochester, is looking fine and intends to return to the war zone as soon as he has sufficiently recovered from his injuries. Before going to his home in Plainview, Sylvester stopped at Minneapolis where to the family circle of Robert Hall, his college chum and comrade in arms, he told the story of Hall’s tragic yet glorious death. Sylvester was wounded by the same shell that killed Hall on the battlefield of Verdun. There was a catch in his voice and tears in his eyes as he told the parents of the
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* SOURCE: Manzow, Ron (compiler), "The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota - a collection of information taken from the Plainview News, other newspapers, letters, and diaries beginning in 1884": Plainview Area History Center, 40 4th St. S.W., Plainview, MN 55964. Compiled in 2001.
NOTE: from Ron Manzow, December 2001: "Feel free to reproduce the pages for anyone who wants a copy. It was
compiled to be shared... All I ask is that they consider sending a check to the [Plainview Area] History Center to help us out. That
should be enough."
Howder; © 1995-2011 All Rights Reserved. Last Updated February 14, 2011.