Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-05-17
DEDICATE GREAT
AMPHITHEATRE
1OU. 5. Soldiers
Memorial Building in Ar
lingt0n National Gene
terry to all Fighting
Men.
CEREMONIES HELD
Veterans of Three Wars
Present at DedicatOry
Service.
(Ry the Associated Prcss.)

Wy tuS <hSSoSlltSu AISSS.J
Washington, d. c., May 15.-To the
memory of the soldiers and sailors who
fought the battles of the United
States in all wars, a great memorial
amphitellater was dedicated today i'll
Arlington National cemetery.
The ceremonies were attended by
veterans of three wars, members of
the diplomatic corps, cabinet, senate,
house and other government officials
and Il large gathering of people. a
procession of army, navy and marine
corps detachments, veterans of the
Grand Army of the Republic and al
lied organizations, Spanish War vet
Grams and World War veterans led by
Major General Nelson A. Miles (retir-
ed preceded the ceremonies.
The dedicatory exercises were under
the auspices of the Grand Army OF the
Republic to whose efforts crali. is
given fo.' the inception of the memoir
ial and for is years of work for it.
Secretary Daniels, Secretary Baker,
both members of the commission when
had charge of the construction of che.
memorial: and Colonel ID. NJ. Hal! Of
Columbus, Ohio, commander-in-rhief Of
the Grand Army Of the Republic, we're
the principal speakers.
Immense Structure.
The great structure of white marble.
built by the government at Il cos Of
$S25,GG0 stands in Che southern part
Of Arlington National cemetery amid
the graves of thousands of the nalion's
dead. Near it are the Maine memorial,
where the battleship Marines fighting
top stands sentinel " the graves of
the men who lost their lives When the
vessel was sunk in Havana harh0r, and
the Confederate memorial, surrounded
by the graves Of the SouthernerS. Be-
sides commanding Il view of the ceme-
fiery, the memorial 0verl0okS the PO-
tOmac River and the city of Washing
ton. II contains a chapel and seats
5000 people.
Fifty-siS years g yesterday Airing
ton National cemetery was first used
when President Lincoln personally
witnessed the burial there of ~ SOL
diers who died in the hospital Oh the
estate abandoned by Gen
cral Robert +. Lees family at the be-
ginning of the civil war and bought
by the United States at Il tax sale for
hospital purposes. Later the govern
ment paid the Lee heirs $1jG,O0O. Sol
diers' Home cemetery was filled and
(luartcrmaster General Meigs, with
I.incoln's consent, ordered
soldiers buried in Arlington. That
the beginning of Arlington Nation
Cemetery which has become one of
the shrines Of the nations soldier and
sailor dead.
Crowds Growing. /
For years a little vine-clad amphi- /,
served for ceremonies on Me-
mortal Days, when the President of
The United States usually was the on
ltO:., bu: the gatherings outgrew this
and the Grand Army Of the Republic IS
years ago began Il movement for the
memorial amphitheater. A%uthoriza-
ion for construction was given by
several years agO and IL COM
mission appointed to carry out the
Dlans. Besides the secretary of war,
who is chairman of the commission,
the secretary of the navy, the com I
was composed of Elliott Woods.
superintendent of the United States j
'aritol building and grounds: Colonel (
Ohm Mcl.lroy, representing the Grand i
Army of the Republic: Fred Bcall,
the United Confederate 5
Veterans, and Charles w. Newton, rep I
.'esen:ing the Spanish Wan Veterans. v
The Arlington memorial amphitllca- /
or Is said to he the only memorial of Y
is kind in the world. monuments and t
of all kinds having been i
'rected to generals and other leaders, i
mt none heretofore has been erected
o the soldiers and sailors who fought 1
Ill the battles of the country. c
5