The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1914-05-30

~HIS Memorial day we VIII again
witness the result OF the ma
lions policy for honoring her
military dead II we visit any
Of the national cemeteries we viii wit
ness the results OF the nations attempts
to do all things possible for those be
reayed and for the memory OF the
dead 1t Is a big task, and the manner
OF its accomplishment is the story OF a
tribute paid to one OF the greatest SEN
timents that have yer been lodged In
the breasts OF a people.
Since 1900 the United States govern
nent a supplied free of charge 20O,-
Goo headstones 10 mark the graves Of
soldiers and sailors who nave done her
service. To the cemeteries OF the great
those On the borderiand of civilization,
these headstones have gone. On Ne
mortal day they offer themselves 10 a
scattered multitude as fitting places for
the bestowal OF floral wreaths. The IN
marked graves, through the efforts OF
the government. are growing fewer.
In the national cemeteries alone there
are the remains Of $4,000 unknown he
roes who have met death In the defense
Of their country and who must. be
aus Of the loss OF their identity. be
denied individual recognition. Yet the
nation has exhausted every esour In
attempting to find the names Of those
heroic dead. The very futility Of these
deaths. from the standpoint OF the
credit received by the men as indiyid-
mails. calls forth a sentimental apprecia-
zion Of their service that oyersbadows
that accorded the men with the hand
somest monuments The unknown are
being reinterred in sacred ground. their
graves are being kept green. and great
monuments are being erected to them
collectively.
NEW IDENTITY SYSTEM
Every effort Is being made to pre-
yent the recurrence In the future of
the tragedy Of the unknown" grave.
At the var department army regula-
lions have been drafted and put into
execution that are 30 rigid that in the
future II will be impossible for the
soldier who fights for his country to
fail Of Identification wherever he may
fall.
Above all this, the government has
developed q system Of careful and gen.
erous disposition Of the remains Of the
dead soldier or sailor that offers the
greatest possible recompense to the
for the perpetuaton OF the memory of
the gioriously dead. for the remains Of
any man who dies In the service, wher-
ever his end may come, are transport
ed to any other spot On the globe that
may be designated by bis family and
there given burial with military hon.
ors. All this is at the expense Of the
government. for the glory Of the dead
and the consolation of his family.
Finally the government has been
marking the graves and placing monu-
ments over the remains Of the Confed-
crate soldiers who died in northern
prisons and hospitals during the civil
wal.
Wherever any man dies for whom 1t
can be shown that he ever served In
the United States army or navy the
federal government stands ready to
furnish for his grave a headstone OF
marble neatly inscribed with his name
and indicating his military service.
The government has a large contract
with a firm In Massachusetts to fur
nish these headstones. An average Of
IL. 900 a rear have been so delivered
for the last score OF years. Since this
policy of marking the graves Of the
military dead was inaugurated in 1878
there have probably been 100000
stones that have gone forth and which
ire today standing over the graves of
men who once fought for their coun-