Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-03
UNlTE[DSTATES'
PAYS TRIBUTE
TO THE FRENCH
Congressional Medal 0
Honor Laid on Unknown
Dead Soldier.
(By The Associated Press,

#It SIS 10Y ssInG ASSOCIATED FT6SS) !stHg
Paris Oct. 3,--The United States
the dead soldiers of France when
General John ]. Pershing, in The
presence of an immense throng in
Guiding President Millerand and 9TH
err high officials of the republic laid
the congressional medal"of honor up
on the tomb of the unknown poilu
under the arch of triumph.
ts 1nnpTetslvc Ceremony.
( The ceremony was the most i'm
pressive of Franco-American unity
since the United States declared war
on Germany in April, 1917.
"A military review. second in size
only to the historic victory parade,
followed the ceremony. A picked bat
talon Of American troops represent
ing all units Of the American force on
the Rhine, led the parade which m
eral Pershing. Ambassador Herrick
and all the marshals of France. The
presence of a large body of American
troops in Paris for the first time since:
1919 caused ar outburst of enthusi-
asm from the thousands of Parisians
who lined the Avenue Des Champs
Elyees and the Place .D'E1toile, where
the arch is located.
Before placing the decoration on
~ tuAbAAkO"A SOINiSA . JSIhos NSLlSL Il
Pershing stood before it at salute for
several minutes. Then in a voice shak-
ing with emotion, he declared:
Sin. the name of the president and
the people Of the United States, as a
token Of our perpetual belief in the
righteousness Of the cause for which
you died, and as a mark of respect
and admiration to you and to your
countrymen. I place this congression-
| a roanl IF hnnnr lInnn vnIlr toni -
American Band Plays.
The American headquarters band
from Coblenz then played the Mar
seillaise and the Star Spangled Ban
ner.
General Pershing's speech made a
profound impression on the Assem-
blage and brought tears to many
eyes. Referring to the unknown as
Soldier of France, dear friend and
my comrade," the general said:
Il salute you. In your noble life
and in you tragic death, you have be-
come to the world an immortal sym
Dol of. devotion to the highest ideals
Of mankind. Your valor ON many
fields will eve remain an inspiration
to living mothers. who weep owe,
your grave, as they recall the hero,
ism of their brave sons.
your allied comrades remem BEL
with deep emotion nov you cheerec
them as you fell. They praise you,
gallant deeds while they renew rthei,
vows, Of allegiance to- the principle.
Tor which you fought. Dear friend
your battle is over. You sleep quietly
amid the noisy traffic of a great city
For you. the victory Is won. O gave
your last drop Of your .life's blood fol
liberty and in the glorious sacrifice o
your youth was born he hope o
those you left behind. In YOU hear
there is malice toward zone but char
ity for all. 1t is this spirit and thil
alone which will establish confidence
among nations.
Work Not Completed.
you fought against the salamit!
of war u your work will, not be com
pleted until the burdens Of prepare
tons for war are lifted from tn
shoulders of all peoples. You CAV
your all for peace. but your gift will
be barren unless a generous spirit o
unsel1sh cooperation arises to TAX
the place of hatred. Unknown sol
der. to you Of whom thousands o
mothers ask is it my son." to you
tomb which is for France the altar o
the country. I bring the love and af
lection Of the American soldiers VIII
fought beside you n the valiant sol
diers of France"
Louis Barthou. minister of war. &C
cepting the decoration in the name o
france, said:
1--WE have Conscience in the govern
ment and the people of America. VIII
in. 1917 after CALM d~eliberation ant
reason. threw themselves into tn
furious struggle in which civilization
was menaced. The medal with. whicl
you have just decorated the unknown
/ poilu we accept as proof of your ad
miration but we also see therein tn
token Of your friendship. We hav'
fought together for the same ideals
Right shall no. be truly victorious
unless victory keeps her promise
Referring to Ambassador Herrick'
speech which was a reaffirmation o
} the feeling of friendship that4Amerlcf
has for the soldiers of France Wit
died defending their country agains
an u]nprovoked invasion. NJ: Barthou1
declared:
!. IT thank you. Mister Ambassador
for having said here. especially here
that the SECURITY Of France is the oa'
sis for the 'peace Of the world
John Barton Payne