The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-31
Monument to H eroe S
Of Battleship Maine
Stands Revealed.
GROWING EVENT
OF MEMORIAL DAY
Former President Taft and Other
Notable Men Pay Their Trib-
ute to Men Who Died in Ha-
vana Harbor-Rear-Ad-
miral Winslow Heads
Great Parade.

New York, May 3o.-In memory OF
the 2s7 officers and men who wore
lost with the battleship Maine in
Havana harbor fifteen years ago, the
National Maine Monument was dedi-
Gated here to-day.
From dozen American warships,
units of the Atlantic fleet at anchor in
the Hudson River, q salute of 252
guns. echoed from the Palisades as the
veil was swept aside that revealed the
country's tribute-a pylon forty feet
high that stands in Central Park over
looking Columbus School
Noted citizens spoke words Of praise
for the dead heroes of the war with
Spain and for those who live. torme T
President Taft. the Secretary of the
Navy. the Governors OF Maine ana
New York. representatives Of the Gu
ban republic and others took part in
the exercises.
Grcnt Military Parade.
military parade along Fifth Av-
enue preceded the ceremonies a the
monument Headed by Rear-Admiral
Winslow, the grand marshal. 5.OpU
soldiers and sailors, including the vet
Grams of two wars. marched through
lane formed by many thousands OF
holiday sightseers.
Infantry. militia, navy yard marines
hluejackets from the battleships. state
military, cavalry. Civil and Spanish
War veterans Cuban troopers and
sailors from the Cuba. the island re-
public's naval representatives these
and others were in the line OF march
General james Grant Wilson. who
presided at the dedication. read a let
ter from President Wilson.
My thoughts will be very mucr
with you. as will. am sure, the
thoughts of the whole country" III,
President wrote. All Americans mus
look hack to the tragedy OF the Maine
with the profoundest sentiments OF
sorrow for the fine men who then -
trasically and neNpcctedly lost their
lives. and must always feel that tC
have been one OF the turning points o,
our consciousness of what was involv.
cd in the struggle for human liberty.
1t was late in the afternoon wher
George Hearst, young son of Villa n
Randolph Hearst a member of the ma
tional Maine Monument committee
unveiled the monument. AS the fleets
guns doomed their tribute. a flora
counterpart of the old Maine was re-
leased to the Hudson's waters from
shore. Around the pylon the crowo
sang America"
Mayor Gaynor accepted the memor-
ial on behalf of the city. Wheaths
were placed at the monuments base
One from President Wilson was laio
by the Rev. John Chadwick, chaplain
on the Maine when the explosion oc-
CURED.
Taft Pays His Tribute.
William Howard Taft, in his ad-
dress. characterized the dedication as
an enduring witness to three facts.
The first is the gratitude that ou1
country feels toward the men who
went down on the Maine in that the,
gave their lives in her service" ht
declared. The second is the birth OF
new people, and the founding of g
new nation through our dlsinteresteo
aid aud sacrifice. The third Is the
expansion OF this nation into a wider
sphere of world usefulness and greater
responsibility among the nations thar
ever before In It's history"
Referring to Cuba, the speaker de-
clared the island republic is our fos
ter child. AS she errs in the youth
of her national life, the United States
must bear with her and aid her" he
said. And" he said. eve must hold
to persistent purpose to maintair
her az an independent and self-re-
specting republic"
THE wonderful material expansion
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