THE MILESTONE

[Music] e these are the highways and byways of the world each leading to some destination some new and scarcely worn some well traveled each Trail was broken by someone who dared to discover a new way and each who pioneered blazed the trail for those who followed the notched tree The Shred of gypsy Scarlet the ancient Milestone or the modern signpost but these are geographical roads which the eyes and feet can follow there are those other roads of Life intangible unseen except in the Mind's Eye as symbols of human progress It's on one of these blazed by the science of medicine toward the conquest of disease that we follow as far as the mileston Le April 1st 1955 from Canada to Mexico from Sandy Hook to the Golden Gate New Hope flowered with returning spring it wasn't just the riot of color in aelia and tulip bed it wasn't just the Lilac spires touched with the lavender fire of spring it was something more a rumor a whisper that sped from lip to lip the news that perhaps at last science had found the answer to polio The Dread crippling disease which had missed ified the doctor since ancient Egypt not until the turn of the century did poliomyelitis even begin to reveal its secrets to science progress was slow and then little by little the research Pace increased as the scientists one by one began to match the isolated pieces of the jigsaw puzzle into one comprehensive picture while research feverishly progressed ironically polio outdid itself reaching epidemic proportions striking down both children and adults in unprecedented numbers March of dime's money poured in to back the scientists as well as to care for the stricken and the American people worked gave hoped and prayed that someday somewhere beyond a new Milestone could be set up and then it happened April 12th 1955 dials were set on radios and television sets hungry news presses the world over were fed the giant headlines and the triumphant story at last an effective polio vaccine was ready polio vaccine was a reality and a young scientist named Jonas Su was the hero of the day dramatic of course why not the American people willed it this way sure other vaccines had been quietly discovered and quietly administered to the people but this PO polio vaccine now here was something different the American people and mass housewife businessman Physicians scientist Taxi Driver farmer lawyer and career woman teenagers and small children all had a vested interest in the fight against polio and the discovery of an effective vaccine millions of volunteers through the national foundation for infantile paralysis had worked through the years to see this day each individual who worked who contributed a dime or a dollar to the March of Dimes was a part of the news the drama was twofold the news of an effective vaccine against paralytic polio and the heartwarming drama of a Nation celebrating its own personal Victory the marking of the Milestone which their own hands had Hune and set in place but was this the end of the story was it really a great many people concluded that this was the end of the fight the end of the road but there were others after the shouting in the tumult died who looked into the future soberly thoughtfully they listened as people asked what are you going to do now that polio is licked what will the National Foundation now that the polio fight has won did you ask that question did the thought strike you that April 1955 marked the last long mile of the Crusade well let's see let's find out for ourselves whether the job is finished or not on that April day the vaccine news was heard in places other than the noisy streets it filtered into the quiet places like kernan's Hospital for crle Children most of the patients too young to understand some of them old old enough to realize that the vaccine came too late for them the news came to the Wednesday Clinic where orthopedic surgeons and nurses checked the progress of the patients it was business as usual here where the worker from the local March of Dimes chapter talked with parents and made her notes on the recommendation for the new brace the crutch or surgery or therapy no the job's not finished finished here these patients still need the care March of Dimes funds can and will provide the patients at the Children's Hospital school and in hospitals all over the world heard the news of the vaccine but this didn't change their lives they were still shut out from normal living and each still must haltingly traveled a long road to his maximum recovery no here the job is not finished finished yet and then there's Bud Dabney a great guy with a big smile he's only 28 and before polio struck him down he had his house paid for he was the proud daddy of a baby girl and business was so bright he had already ordered his new car bud is only one of the 3,200 iron lung patients still to be cared for polio not l for him and those others and Bud takes a lesson in using the feeding apparatus rigged up for him by the therapy department now look would you have the Gallant Spirit of this boy were you in his place you and I raise our Forks lift our arms walk breathe without thought but every small motion is an Agony of effort for bud this is the day bud had a schedule to go to his in-law's home to see how he progresses out of the iron lung Center oh it's good to go home even though it's not your own home his homecoming was a great day for small Debbie his little [Music] girl oh it was good to lie in a regular bed again but out behind Bud's room there in the hall the iron lung stands ready just in case the news boy left the paper at Bud's house the afternoon of the big news on polio his wife read him the story and Bud was happy for the others no the job's not finished for bud dapne not yet here in the quiet Laboratories of the John's Hopkins University where vital contributions to the discovery of the Suk vaccine have been made work goes on in the cause of a still better vaccine better diagnostic methods better methods for rehabilitation more effective surgical methods and most important a new method to grow polio virus by some other means than that of the kidney tissue of monkeys which are import reported from India money from the March of Dimes makes possible these untiring searches into potis problems March of dime's money backed Dr Su in his research as well as Dr David bodan and Dr Howard how whom you see at work here and March of Dimes money backs the psychiatric research on polio patients at the University of Maryland your money goes into such Research Laboratories all over the country and more money is needed to carry on Research like this until the final answer is found so the job's not finished here either and there's still another problem that's the serious shortage of people like these professional therapists who are needed by the hundreds to care for polios as well as other handicapped people no the end is not in sight for the ambulances still speed the stricken to City hospitals [Music] tortured parents still come to their National Foundation chapter not only for financial aid but for comfort and reassurance the sulk vaccine Discovery was the miraculous result of a 50-year search but it's still only a milestone on the road to Perfection now we've seen for ourselves the four Great problems before us care of the stricken as well as protection for those who will be stricken 3,200 iron lungs to be kept in motion for those who cannot breathe alone Myriad problems still unsolved in the Laboratories and a vast Recruitment and education of professional people to care for the crippled can we answer the question what shall we do now yes for its business as usual for the national foundation and its millions of volunteers and contributors how will we do it this is how buckle down to make this the greatest March of Dimes campaign ever executive boards and campaign directors will meet to plan their strategy mothers will map out the wards and precincts and enlist their thousands for the dramatic night of the mother's march on polio teenagers will rally to Taps their own Organization for raising funds by selling balloons or little blue crutches for polio parades will be organized and rooted for kickoff day clubs and organizations will plan their own special Ways and Means to swell the march of Di's totals for the year and help build another Milestone on the way to the complete conquest of polio if you're not enlisted in the fight already what are you planning to do it's a big job and the job needs you can we cut off cleanly all help All Care Look whose hand would pull the plug from the respirator who would close and lock the doors of the polio laboratory who would deny the crutch or brace or wheelchair to unsteady little limbs you no not you nor I nor any of us who realize that our challenges still care for the stricken and protection for the healthy yes the sulk vaccine is a milestone but there's a long road ahead before our final destination we've come this far can we turn back now can we close our ears to the plea don't desert me now no the American people will continue to March forward toward the rising son of a new day when polio is completely vanquished backing to the Limit the people like Tommy who take heart from the pledge we give him that he and all like him will be remembered and never have to go It [Music] Alone e