Former Dunkirker sponsored idea of aid to Dunkerque

Young men often leave their own home town to seek opportunity elsewhere. It is an American characteristic. But when those young men are Dunkirkers, they never forget the old home town, as evidenced by the number of letters Mayor Murray has received from former residents. All of them found their thoughts turned homeward by the national publicity Dunkirk has received for Dunkirk to Dunkerque day.

One such man is Charles LaFayette Todd, national publicity director of American Aid to France. Although there has been much publicity about Dunkerque day, Todd has kept himself in the background. He was fearful any personal publicity for the director would put the stamp of press agentry on Dunkerque day.

When Todd was discharged last May as captain from the United States Army, he accepted his present post with American Aid to France. Almost instantly, he saw the possibilities of linking up his old home with the work he was undertaking. To that extent, he may be regarded as the originator of the plan, but the idea really has older roots than that.

As long ago as 1912, OBSERVER files show an exchange of greetings between officials of the two cities. In 1942, the mayor of Dunkirk sent greetings to the people of Dunkerque by shortwave broadcasts through the American propaganda services. A year ago, the Dunkirk Rotary Club discussed the idea of aiding the Dunkerque Rotary Club to reestablish itself. And about the time the relationship of the two cities was stressed in an editorial in this newspaper. Many others had thoughts along the same line to such an extent that the idea may truly be regarded as of spontaneous origin.

Todd was born in this city in 1911, the son of the late Dr. Edwin L. Todd. His mother is now Mrs. Proctor Browne, residing in Santa Paula, Calif. He was public relations officer of the New York port of embarkation during the war, and later at San Francisco. He graduated from Hamilton College, receiving his masters degree at Columbia.