Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-11-15
MARKING GRAVES IS
TASK FOR HEROES
MEN IN REGISTRATION SERVICE
WORK CALMLY UNDER FIRE
ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
COL. PIERCE IS THEIR CHIEF
Avators Driven by Storm Land In
Florida Everglades and Are Rescued
by Seminole lndians--Governrnent
Gets Many New Hospitals.

,From Committee on Public lnforus ION
Washington. 90 Announcement from
France that all American dead are to
be returned 10 this country for per
inanent burial adds interest 10 The
story Of how the graves Of these heroes
are marked and recorded This work
IS done by the grave registration seiN'
lee. which j. cooperating with the l'rd
Cross in phoiogruphipg graves anu
when practicable In distributing these
photographs, 10 The families and rtla'
tves Of lie dead,
The graves registration service + Il
init of the quHrlcrnaStcr corps, EaclI
unit of this service is composed Of one
captain, one lieutenant and ~ enlisted
men. There are now II Of these units
win the American rNpeditlonnry
forces IN France. under command of
Lieut.. Col Charles &. Pierce, Colonel
Pierce Is II retired chaplain. a major
Of the regular army and was pastor
ot an Episcopal church IN Philadelphia
when the present war began. A. he
had been in charge Of similar work IN
he Philippines, he volunteered for
this important task upon he organzn'
Ton Of the graves registration service.
He has been awarded Il promotion for
his zealouS performance of the duties
falling To hm
Ina letter which Lieutenant Colonel
Pierce has written 10 Maj. H. Il Lem
a. chief ~ HE cemeterial branch
quartcrnaStcr corps aud which IS
quoted IN part here is 10 be had a
glimpse uf 4 work that blends mercy
and hcrui>m
IAN llut The rensur> Viii pass IN
fiji, way ot news concerning this furl.
aus dslc IN the vast triangular arena
between scissors ChatcaurhieTl and
Epms has already been given ym in
lie papers. writes Colonel Pierce
hut the work that has hctaI'cn my
3tIHill lltllI - 'H' 'l lil' hllI'NHti' N' "
chapters al history Suffice ID 10 say
thlt uy men have displayed q splendid
,orl or hrrolSu worthy 81 the red
acst blood stock IN the Wuhl-an
jlHt hH,, had occasion to recommend
number 81 thrm for promotion aud
some 90 lhem for the h.>loWal Of The
Distinguished Service cross
can sou fancy lot Of men going
aImiy pbont their duty under burst.
+ shells and bombs that eNeavatc a
cellar every time they strike the
ground going about 10 minister to the
,ad luSing out cemeteries and put.
ng ap crosses over the graves Of their
,alorous aud fallen comrades rs fast
is the grenadeS Of hate tear them
DOWN. Then You Will know Tie place
II these brave lads Of mine who worry
when they see me, lest may have 1t
mind to move them 10 Il safer pluce.
And the men who are going over the
top, An. you viii need rapid transit
Ia keep NJ with them. For they have
he crusaders spirit aud tlicy TIL the
gaps of HE fallen and move on with
I rush that the Hun cannot under
stand. They viii win and
they have 10 other thought often |
have he privilege of preaching 10 them
i n layman and give you my word
that never looked into such faces be-
'orc Perhaps | have seen aS cumcly
features, hut there Is a fire in all these
eyes and the light Of a sublime conSe.
Grafton such ms the world has never
seen save In the faces Of martyrs who
deemed II an honor to die for q cause.