Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-02
THE M'kINLEY MONUMENT
STORY OF HIS CAREER PoR-
TRAYED WITH FLAGS.

The unwilling Of the Mckinley monument
Monday last was the most attractive in Its
setting and meaning that has ever been
witnessed at any gathering of like char
acter. After the rain the weather cleared
of, 30 that the sun. with blue sky and
heavy clouds, made, together with the
beautiful natural surroundings and the at
tire Of the distinguished guests, picture
well to be remembered.
The scheme for unwilling was new. SIM
pie. yet with a double meaning. as 1t por-
trayed. with the aid Of flags, the fact that
President Mckinley was commander-in-
chief OF the army and navy in fact. as In
the late Spanish war. and was designed and
arranged by Frederick d. Owen of this city.
chairman Of the committee for street dec
GRAFTON and civic improvement.
Situated halfway up the lofty granite
steps and back of the speakers. guests.
band and choir was the bronze statue Of
William Mckinley, representing him deliv-
ering his last speech at Buffalo, with the
lofty granite dome of the mausoleum above
as background. On the right and left,
sixty feet apart, were erected two lofty
nagpoles, painted, one red, the other blue,
with tops of white, to represent the army
and navy. About halfway up the poles
were put shields, with wreaths with en-
blems Of the army and navy, which were
made and taken from Washington. Two
new flags were loaned Mr.. Owen by the de-
partments, and were draped around the
statue one a United States army post flag
and one United States navy ensign, and
each was held in place and aloft by a steel
horizontal wire stretched between the poles.
At the appropriate time Miss Helen Nc
klniey was led across the platform by
Justice William r. Day to the center aisle.
Where was held In waiting a bouquet of
tories. with a silk bow of ribbon attached
to the end of the cord. and, when pulled,
Jet the folds OF the -.ags drop from the
race OF the statue, when two Grand Army
and son and H. R. Jones and son, who
were great friends Of Mckinley in early
LIE. pulled the ropes attached to the heavy
nags, drawing them aloft and further apart
breeze caught the folds of the flags and
carried them out forming an attractive
background for the bronze statue. At the
next instant the nags were broken apart
from the steel WIRE where they flew by the
aid of the wind. to the respective mast
heads. and remained foated out upon the
pleasant autumn breeze until the close of
the exercises
with two large wreaths and carnations. sent
by the President and Mrs. Roosevelt held
together with a long bow Of white ribbon
Around the upper base line of molding of
the statue was fastened a garland of car
nations. with a carved medallion Of the seal
OF the United States as central ornament,
giving, as 1t did, official sanction to the
decoration.
At the right-hand corner Of the pedestal
was placed the Presidents flag which
hung In the cabinet room all during the
Spanish war. having been adopted by Pres
i lGent Mckinley from designs by Mr. Owen
This was especially appropriate at this
time, and 1t added little color to the
solid gray granite base.
After the exercises the wreaths were
placed by MI Owen at the heads of the
two marble sarcophagi in the tomb where
they Will remain for some time to come as
small tribute from the chief executive
and his wife. and reminder of the dedca-
olon exercises and unwilling of September
80, 1907