Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-05-31

Services Held in Honor Of
the Men Who Fought in
All u. S. Wars.

Washington, May 31-To the mem.
ory Of the soldiers and sailors who
fought the battles of the United States
in al wars a. great memorial amphi-
theater was ~dedicated several days
ago in Arlington cemetery.
The ceremonies were attended by
veterans OF three wars, members OF
the diplomatic corps, cabinet. senate.
house and other government officials
and a large gathering Of people. A
procession of army, nav and marine
corps detachments, veterans of the
Grand. Army of the Republic and al
lied. organizations. Spanish war vet
and World war veterans led by
Major General Nelson A. Miles IRE
tired) preceded the ceremonies.
The dedicatory exercises were I'M
der the auspices of the Grand Army
Of the Republic to whose efforts credit
10 given for the inception of the me-
mortal and for IS years Of work for
It. Secretary Baker, Secretary Dan
iels. both members Of the commits
sion which had charge Of the con-
struction of the. memorial, and Col
onel d. M. Hall Of Columbus. o..
Army of the Republic, were the
principal speakers.
lost $S25,aOO.
h great structure of white marble
built by the government at a cost of
1926, 900. stands in the southern part
Of Arlington National cemetery amid
the graves OF thousands OF the ma
TONS dead. Near it are the Maine me-
mortal, where the Names fighting
top stands sentinel over the graves of
the men who lost their lives when the
vessel was sunk in Havana harbor,
and the Confederate memorial. sur-
rounded by the graves of southerners.
Besides commanding a view of the
cemetery, h memorial overlooks the
Potomac river and the city Of Wash
ington. It contains aNchapel and seats
5000 people.
SO Years Old.
Fifty-six years ago yesterday Ar
lington National cemetery was first
ally Witnessed the burial there Of IL
soldiers who died in the hospital or
the Arlington estate abandoned by
General Robert E.. Lees family at the
beginning OF h civil war and bought
by the United States at "a tax sale fol-
hospital purposes. Later the govern
men paid the Lee heirs $3.50, 900
Soldiers Home cemetery was, filed
and QuartermasterE General Neigs
with President Lincoln's consent, or.
dered the soldiers buried in Arlington
That al the beginning of Arlington
National cemetery which has become
M of the shrines Of the nations sol.
,dier and sailor dead.
For years a little vine-clad amphi
theater served for ceremonies on Me
mortal days, when the president Of tn,
United States usually was the orator
but the gatherings outgrew this ant
the Grand Army of the Republic II
years ago began a movement for tn
memorial amphitheater. Authorization
for construction was given by congress
several years ago, and q commission
appointed to carry out the-plAns. Be
sides the secretary Of war, who /
chairman of the commission, and tn
secretary Of the navy. the commissio,
was composed Of Elliott Woods sup
erintendent Of the United. States CAPT
toll building and grounds: Colone
John Me1clroy, representing4the Gran
Army Of the Republic; Fred Beal,
representing the United Confederat
veterans, and Charles W. Newtor
representing the Spanish War veter
ans. .s - d.
Tho Ariine4on Memorial, amphithe
alter Il, sAl4e..tps be the only memoirs
Of its kind In The world. monument
and memorials Of all kinds havtn
been erected to generals and othe
leaders. but none heretofore has bee
erected to the soldiers and sailors VIII
fought all the battles OF the country
. ag s1 -
REUTRNS TRnM