Evening star., 1914-02-16
ASSEMBLE IN HONOR
OF THE MAINE DEAD
Representatives Of Three Or
qanizations of War Vet
erans Pay Tribute.
FLOWERS DISTRIBUTED
AND ADDRESSES MADE
Letter From President of Cuba.
Floral Offering From President
Wilson-The Program.

~ sixteenth anniversary OIL the
sinking of the old battleship Maine i'll
Havana harbor was celebrated with
elaborate services under the auspices
of the Army and Navy Union this
afternoon. Because of the high wind
and drifting snow the memorial serv-
ices were held inside the riding hall
at Fort Myer. but the remainder of the
program was carried out as previously
arranged and the SnoW-covered graves
and monuments in the Arlington ma
tionaI cemetery were decorated had
been planned
The ceremonies We're unique III that they
We're participated in by the national heads
Of three great veteran patriotic organf-
cations. They We're II. Oden Lake. ma
tioual commander of the Army and Navy
Union; Washington Gardner commander
in-chief OF the Grand Army of the Re
public. and John Lewis Smith, command
er-in-chief of the United Spanish War
Veterans. With them were John {. Daley,
j. X. p. Gleeson and Jere A Costello
the District department commanders OF
the three organizations.
Despite the freezing cold the strewine
OF evergreens by party of young women
on the Potomac river was carried out
Ii was found impossible to the
launch Sylvia for this purpose, and. there
fore through the courtesy of District
Commissioner Siddons. the District fire
boat Firerighter was brought into requl-
si,ion. Under the direction of Ensign
Frank w. Sigourney. District of Coiurn-
bia ~avai militia, the F1refighter left the
Aau,luct bridge shortly after o'clock.
The evergreens We're scattered from the
stern of the boat by Misses Belva I>ough-
lin. Elsie Stuart. Prtchard, May Borland.
I.ottie Temberton. Florence Stonebaker,
Edna Greenwell and Cheney. The Fire
fighter was decorated for the occasion
with fir trees and flowers.
Fort Myer Program.
open-d with the 1iring OF a national
s .e at = o'clock, followed by the
,,layins of martial music by the Marine
and 9TH Cavalry bands. Secretary
Daniels OF the Navy Department ar
rived in an automobile at go o'clock,
accompanied by the heads of the
patriotic organizatio taking part. He
was greeted by a fanfare of trumpets.
and all present stood as the star
Spangled Banner was played by the
Marine Band.
National Commander Lake assumed the
gavel at the opening of the services in
the drill hall. and invocation was pro-
nounced by Bishop Alfred Harding OF
Washington John McElroy, the pernls-
nent chairman, was then introduced, and
delivered an address. referring to all men
who have given their lives in the service
Of their country.
Col. McElroy's Address.
He said in part:
The memorial has q Tar wider scope
than merely recalling the fate of those
who died on the Maine. We make their
case typical of all men who on land ana
sea give the last full measure of devotion
to the countrys laws by dying under its
flag.
Many more men have bravely perlshed
on land and sea to make our banner of
beauty and glory the emblem OF the
highest ideal III government than have
fallen under any other flag that Is Kissed
by the sunlight of heaven.
We meet today mainly to eXalt he
role service under the flag. We are
met to do our utmost to incite patri-
otic devotion, which IS the sheet anchor
of our popular government. ana TO raise
in esteem service under the flag as one
of the noblest pursuits in which a
Young man can engage In honoring
those who in line of duty went down
under the dark waters with the Maine
we at the same time honor all "he
have died under the flag.
"Whoever enists in the service OF the
United States to maintain her laws and
institutions must know. from the his
tory of our country. that he is daring
ali the dangers that fate has in store
for brave men. What may come to MIN
after ne has consecrated his life to the
country 5 service is not matter Of his
choice He is to 80 wherever the ex-
ecutauts of our law send him. and
faithfully and heroically perform the
duties which confront him
whether lie is TO be numbered with
the nearly l.uD1pbo men who have died
for the flag whether he shall return
home to a long life of citizenship Is in
the hands of the High Power which pre-
sitics over human destiny. His death is
equally glorious, his memory is equally
I for n
may come He has done his duty. and
| the rest is III the hands of Cod
Tribute From Cuba's President
| A beautiful tribute to the dead OF the
Maine sent by President Menocal of
| Cuba. was then read by J. Walter
| Mitchell, secretary of the executive
committee in charge of the services.
! President Menocars message was one
of regret that he could not be present.
and he delegated Manuel de la Vega.
! CHI; rye d'affaires Of the Cuban legation
! here. t" attend as his representative.
BE certain. however,, said President
! Mcnoral in his message, that my mind
| VIII be with you all. for I have to
/ mourn as well as YOU those Who as
| the brave officers and sailors of the
| Maine. died III the fulnllment of their
| duty. Please transmit to all the mem
| bers of the battleship memorial com
| nnittee the expressions OF my deepest
! sympathy"
| Rear Admiral SiGsbee, in command of
/ the Maine when the vessel went to the
| bottom of Havana hartor, sent from
| New York a letter of regret that he
| could not be here. Former President
| Taft, who was invited to be one of the
| speakers Of the day. also sent regrets
= Mrs. Isabel Worrell Ball, chairman OF
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