The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-31
UNvE|L MONUMENT
TO DEAD HEROES
Miss Helen Taft Pulls Cord After
President Delivers Address at
Famous Gettysburg Battlefield.


GETTYSBURG. Pa, May 3l.-Miss
Helen II. Taft, daughter OF the presi-
dent OF the United States. appeared
for the first time In a public function
today. when she unveiled the monu-
ment erected here by congress to the
memory Of the regular army members
who fell In defense OF the union. The
president, Jacob 8. Dickinson, secre-
tary of war. and army officers OF high
rank from every section Of the United
States joined In making the observa-
ton Of Memorial Day one OF the most
noted since the civil war. Veterans
and cadets, statesmen, diplomats and
civilians all paid the young woman
homage.
The monument she unveiled. and be-
fore which her father. the president.
delivered an grafton. is a magnificent
shaft on Hancock-ave., just south OF
the high water mark" Of the war.
where Pickett's men were finally
stopped in their historic charge. Upon
the great bronze shields at the base
OF the shaft are the names OF all the
officers In the AZ cavalry, artillery, In
fantry and engineer commands OF the
federal regulars that participated in
the operations about Gettysburg. The
monument cost nearly 100000, and
was built with money appropriated by
the national government. Out In the
fields, In the peach orchard and upon
the hills surrounding the spot where
the monument stands. other stones
have been erected, each seven feet In
height, to mark the location OF the
different commands during the engage
ment.
Artillery Booms Salute.
President Taft's private car, Olym-
pia, reached Gettysburg station at
tached TO the regular passenger train
from Hanover. AS soon as the presi-
dent appeared on the rear platform
OF the Olympia all the soldiers within
view came to attention and the artil-
lery battery, planted on an eminenoe
a few hundred yards away. doomed
out the Fl guns of the presidential ga
Lutte. The Thirteenth Coast Artillery
band played America" as the presi-
dent and his party took their places In
the stand facing the monument, and
when the familiar strains of the IA
tional anthem died away, Chaplain II.
\. Chouninard, of the Fifth United
States infantry. offered prayer. Presi-
dent Taft's address followed and was
an appreciation of the heroic deeds OF
the regulars in the great war. The
states mad built monuments to their
sons on many shell-scarred fields; the
deeds OF the volunteers had been
CONNIE morated on both sides OF the
Mason and Dixon line with scores OF
noble statues and granite shafts. Now
1t had remained for the national con-
gress to fittingly remember the valor
of the regulars at Gettysburg-those
meffEwhese- duties eaifed-tAe to 4
life of arms and made them bear the
brunt OF every charge. AS the repre-
sentative OF the government those SOL
diers fought to save, as well as an
American citizen whose blood Is still
stirred by the intrepid courage dis
played by the men who wore the fed
cral blue, the president said that he
felt honored in assisting at the cere-
mony OF giving 10 the world the gov
ernment's token of praise.
- Flags Flung Aside.
Upon the conclusion OF President
TART remarks, MISS 1eleu al looh
her station at the base Of the granite
shaft, grasped the cord that held the
enshouding flags around the monu-
ment and, at the word given by one
OF the officials present, pulled man.
fully. Swiftly and silently the flags
were flung aside, and, as they fioated
in midair above the heads OF the
crowds on either side of the monu-
ment, the band burst forth with the
Star Spangled Banner. The cheers OF
the crowd well-nigh drowned the
music and then the guns of the Third
Field Artillery added to the noise
with a national salute.
The ceremonies were conducted by
Secretary of War Dickinson formally
presenting the monument to the Get
tysburg battlefield eommission,=thel lat
ter receiving 1t through its chairman,
Lieut.. Col. John p. Nicholson. Laurel
wreaths were then placed on the base
of the monument by the oldest sur
viving battery commander present. and
taps" were sounded by the band
bugler.
Tho president and his party return
to Washington at $3.50 p. m. being due
there shortly after 8.