The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-11-22

which so many of our sons have suf-l
fered and died.
The little procession passed out of |
town, thru the woods and by the fields |
to the 0klawaha, across the darkly /
beautiful stream, and on thru the
pinywoods to the little Oklawaha GEM
etery.
The Oklawaha burying ground is so
tiny spot that only those who know
the paths can find it in the encircling
woods. But it is well taken care of.
Those whose departed relatives and
friends lie there meet often and re-
move everything that can mar the
graves or the paths that wind be-
tween. On its tombstones may be
found the names of many of our pio-
neers, who built homes in this part of
Florida when the red mans trails
were the only roads.
1t was beautiful day, the sun
shone brightly. the sky fecked with
fleecy clouds was of the deepest blue,
and the light haze of autumn lay on
the landscape like benediction. Many
times, doubtless, in the fog and chill
of foreign land, had the dead boy
thought of the peace and beauty of
his far-distant home, and his heart
had ached for it. And now the spirit
of his homeland spread her loving
hands above his quiet heart and shat
tered form and whispered, "My son,
forever rest"
At the cemetery gates, many more
friends, living in the community, met
the funeral procession. The pail
bearers lifted the casket from the
hearse and, preceded by the escort,
carried it to and laid it in the grave
Rev. John J. Neighbour, chaplain of
the legion post, read the beautiful
burial service of his church and added
comforting words of his own. Then
began the work of filling the grave,
in which nearly all the men present
/ took part. Not until this moment
were the protecting folds of the flag
lifted from the coffin. The grave filled,
the firing squad, which had stood at
rest during the service, came to at
ltention and loaded their guns. The
Icrash of a volley rang through the
woods, another and another, and the
funeral was over.
s. The Star has not entirely approved
the plan of bring home the bodies. 1t
has thought it was better to let them
Irest in the soil of the land they in life
helped to save. But the writer wit
messed enough Saturday to see how
Iereat a comfort it was to the parents
land other relatives of Private Ran
dali to know the body of their boy
was again in their keeping, to under
stand how in every place in America
where the remains of son or brother
ARE brought home the same satisfac-
ton is felt, to realize that this is one
Feature of the war in which our gov
Iernment has made no mistake.
. There was but little weeping at the
4 Oklawaha cemetery. The tears had
, nearly all run dry, and the wounds
; had ceased to throb. There was
. rather sad satisfaction that dear
enc had come home and was safe for
/ lever where those who loved him best
could watch his grave and lay upon
it floral tokens of honor and love.
A notable feature of the occasion
! was the large number of beautiful and
J well arranged flowers, which were
: laid upon the new-made grave almost
: covering it from sight.
} The pail bearers were NJ. C. Izlar
: Maston O'Neal, A. R. Hogan, Eugene
) Revels, Frank Morrison and L. H
; Chazal.
The members of the firing squad
7 were Sergeant Eugene Mobley, Ser.
geant James Liddell and First Class
Private j. L. DeYampert
: Card of Thanks
Mr.. and Mrs. J. H. Randall, par.
ents of the dead soldier, and all theil
kin, desire the Star to give thei1
, thanks to all who aided in the las
honors to their boy, particularly t.
Mr.. Roberts who anticipated thei1
every wish.