The Mankato free press., 1918-07-19
Impressive Service Described
By One Of the Airmen
WORD PICTURE OF SCENE
Rites Said Over Remains of
Lieutenant Boyle While the
Lightning Flashed

= Military honors, as paid to the
memory of Lieutenant Boyle, young
aviator who fell to his death at Self
ridge Field, Mount clemens, Mich,
the last Wednesday in June, are
vividly described by. companion
aviator in a letter to Mankato rela-
|tives. AS realistic word picture of
the solemn affair the description
which follows, will be read with in
terest by everyone who has relative
or friend in the service:
"a thunder storm was coming on
yesterday afternoon, as l climbed in
to the aeroplane that was to take me
over the water targets out on Lake
Saint Clair. Dark, threatening
clouds billowed up, one upon the
other. We were up twenty minutes,
and the first spatter of rain had start
ed as the ship came down to the
ground. 1t was pouring by the time
/ reached the barracks, there to be
met with the announcement That the
entire cadet corps would join in the
funeral cortege of Lieutenant Boyle,
who crashed here on Wednesday aft
ernoon
Sat GAS the rain stopped and we
piled on the trucks that were to take
us down to Mount Clemens. Outside
sembled in formation. The casket
was brought out, covered with flowers
from the cadets and officers. Slowly
the procession started down the
street toward the Grand Trunk rail-
road station, a firing squad of six
teen men following Immediately be-
hind the hearse and then the officers
and cadets.
Flood of Golden Light.
Scarcely had we started when an
other thunder storm approached, md
under the tall elms that formed a
vault over the wide street, one could
barely see more than twenty feet
ahead. Suddenly there sprang a rift
in the clouds, a flood of golden light
filtered through the trees and gave
one the impression iof the dim, solemn
light that you see so frequently
through the windows, in Italian
churches. Then the hum of aeroplane
propellers sounded above the steady
tramp of the marching and from
about a hundred feet up three aero
planes showered down glorious Grim
son roses, Some caught on the tree
branches, where they hung suspended
for a time, and then slowly fell l. to
the street to make a fitting paving
for the hearse to take it's way over.
AFTER a few blocks we reached the
railroad station. The casket was
placed by the railroad track and the
firing squad stepped UP. Again ma
ture wrought a. change over the skies
The golden, yellow light changed to
crimson, and then, as the first ofsthe
three volleys broke out on the still
air, the crimson light vanished, and
again we were plunged into the dark
ness of night. The firing squad
stepped back and a bugler stepped
forward. Slowly, and as the rain fell
he sounded "taps." AS the last note
ended another shower of roses fell
with the rain. And it was a sober
body of men who marched in forma :
| ton from the railroad station, having
paid a last tribute to some Mothers
boy, who, though he had not fought
the good fight in France, had given
his life for his country. 1t was a
glorious tribute to a man whom every
one liked and respected. A huge get
| of wings, made of white roses, will
be at the church at Fond du Lac
Wisconsin, his home. These also
were sent by the cadets and officers y