King Victor Emanuel III Salutes 1917's Cheerleader!

MAYOR FIORELLA LA GUARDIA, who was Willis S. Fitch's commanding officer, in charge of 750 young Americans brigaded with the Italian Royal Flying Corps in the World War, flew to Boston February 3d, to see Marquis Carlo di Constantin, Italian Royal Consul General, in the name of King Victor Emanuel 111, of Italy, award to our Will, the title of Chevalier Officer of the Order of the Royal Crown of Italy. The occasion for this signal honor was the Author's Day Luncheon of the Crosscup-Pishon Post, American Legion. Ben Ames Williams was toast-master and another Dartmouth author who spoke was Bill Cunningham. (And "Little Flower" made the Big speech!)

Fitch received two medals in war time for military valor as a bombing pilot and the latest honor was in recognition of his book "Wings in the Night," describing his war experiences with the Italian Royal Flying Corps, as all you readers know.

.Will, those playmates in the press picture look all right for regular duty with, and special decoration by the 1917 Dawn Patrol, at next reunion, if you want to sign them up now In the meantime accept very sincere congratulations from everyone in the Class and hearty applause for the beautiful citation read by the Marquis, the gist of which follows: "In recognition of your bravery as a flier in the Italian sky (already recognized by award of the war cross and military medal), this new testimonial on the part of my august sovereign, goes to the author for your splendid book, written by you in honest praise of what the wings of Italy accomplished during the great war. Chevalier Officer Fitch, I salute you."

MAJOR WILLIS S. FITCH '17 CONGRATULATED BY HIS WAR TIME BUDDY, MAYOR LAGUARDIA, AT FEBRUARY 3D LUNCHEON OF CROSSCUP-PISHON POST, AMERICAN LEGION, IN COPLEY PLAZA HOTEL. MARQUIS DI CONSTANTIN, CENTER, PINNED KING VICTOR EM- MANUEL'S OWN MEDAL ON FITCH AND APPOINTED HIM CHEVALIER OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE CROWN OF ITALY, FOR HIS BOOK "WINGS IN THE NIGHT."