The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-11-22
THE LONG, LONG WAY"
ENDED AT LAST


there was song very popular with |
the British soldiers, and American
with the Allies caused it to
spread all over this country. It was
not patriotic nor religious song;
had it been, it would only have been
heard on ceremonious occasions, for
the soldier, with duty ever all around
HIM, death hanging over him, and
often with heart aching with home
sickness, always Graves what is bright
and ringing in music. dts long,
lcng way to Tipperary; it's a long,
long way to CO." said the chorus of the
song, and few weeks after the first
gun was fired it was ringing around
every British campfire in France.
There was significance to it that the
men did not dream of, for it was a
long, long way indeed to home and
peace.
But after all, it was not so long for
them as for our boys, in miles and
suffering, and homesick waiting in a
faraway land.
The long, long way ended for Virgil
j. Randall Saturday, Nov. 20, when
friends of childhood days, and COM
rades some of whom he had never
seen, laid his body to its last rest in
the little cemetery in the region
his feet knew so well during
his boyhood days. 1t had been
a long, long way for him. First to
the training camp at Camp Wheeler
more than three years before, then
thru the arduous days of training,
then the railway journey to can At
lantic Port" the hurried march at
night to the pier and aboard the trans
port, the long voyage across the At
lantic, with every eye of those around
him on the outlook for danger, and
every nerve braced for what at any
minute might be the deathshock, the
ldebarkation in a strange land, another
long ride of discomfort and WEAKNESS
Ito the front; the months of wearing
work and ever-present danger of death
or manning. before the American
army cut the hinges off the gate to
Germany and the enemy sued for
Ipeace. Then after many more days of
waiting, after the day of departure
flor home had been calculated, came
death in a most unexpected form.
Little difference then to him was it
where his body lay; no matter where
lit was, his spirit could be near his
loved ones always. But they wanted it
brought from the foreign land and
llaid to rest beneath the skies of
home. So the great nation of whom
he had been the son and defender
brought his body, with those of many
other brave boys who had made the
lsupreme sacrifice for it, back across
the sea and gave it to the waiting
hands of his own people, who laid il
Iby the dust of others dear to them in
the Gods acre of his community. And
the long, long way was ended.
Virgil j. Randall, private first class
Company F, 106th Engineers, was the
first man to be selected from his home
precinct of Grahamville. He was i'm.
mediately sent to Camp Wheeler
where ne trained. He went to France
with his regiment, which took an hon,
ored part in the last, decisive months
- @I,a x.,or tt 11r.1 1910 1uI,f1o h.
was at Brests expecting soon to sal
for home, he obtained a twenty-day
leave of absence, and travelled in thai
time over the most historic part Of
France, seeing many things which ht
promised himself that he could soor
describe to the folks at home. Vair
hope. AS he was on his way back tx
Brest one dark night, another traiI
crashed into his and he and severa
comrades were killed.
Private Randall was buried in on'
of the American cemeteries. in France
and it was at first supposed that hi
body would stay there. But the gov
eminent decided to bring home all O.
1.-THE bodies of its men whom their rel
!. latives desired to be buried at home
$50 his body was exhumed, and will
thousands more brought to New Yorl
on an army transport, from which
after some delay it was sent to Ocala
arriving Friday, Nov. 18th.
It was the desire of the American
Legion and many citizens of the tow
to pay special honors to the body o
], Private Randall, the first one of on
! Marion county dead to be brough
home. But the waiting and uncertain
-lty, as well as the day, the most bus.
+ lef the week, caused the last serv
!, Ices, tho heartfelt in their sincerity
Ito be rather slenderly attended.
j The remains of Private Randall
/ REACHED Ocala Friday afternoon. il
ylcharge of Sergeant Brooks, who es
3 lcorted the body from the pier at Ho
/ Iboken, NJ. It was met at the station
Iby number of the dead soldier
) relatives, and taken in charge by MI
sic. ". Roberts of MacKay & Company
4 The casket, sheathed in a staunc
D ltox. was taken to MacKay's chape