The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-10-25
US. UNKNOWN IS
PICKED IN FRANCE
American Army Sergeant Sc
IGCtS the CaSket.
STARTS ON WAY HOME
Soldier Made Choice by Placing Small
Bouquet Of Roses on One of Four
Caskets

ChalUnS sur Marine, Oct. 25.-Ameri-
cas- unknown soldier" who will find
an honOred resting place in the Nation
al Cemetery ut Arlington, was chosen
here
The ceremony OF selecting the caSket
to be taken to America took place in
little imprOviSed chapel in the city
hall. and i'll Keeping with Il request
from the United States government,
was simple and brief.
Sergeant Edward +. Younger, of Chi
cag". headquarters company, second
battalion. tiftieth infantry. waS handed
Il small bouquet of white and pink
Poses by American officers present and
advanced to the little chapel, passing
through Il line of French troops. -Four
baskets had been placed in the chapel
by Il contingent brought here from Cob
lpnlZ
Every one had been asked to leave
the chapel before Sergeant Younger en-
tired. He walked slowly around the
four baskets three times. then stopped
and placed the roses on the caSket fac
ing the entrance to the chamber. He
then turned. facing the entrance, Salut-
ed, and reported to the American off
GERS he had made lis selection While
the ceremony was going on IL French
military band played the Dead March
from Saul"
The caSket was then removed to an
other room and prepared for its long
trip to America. General Dubois. COM
handing the French sixth army corps:
Major General Harry l.. Rogers, quar-
termaSter of the American army on
the Rhine, and Colonel Harry +. Reth-
crS, Of the American graves regiStra
ton service, were present. There were
also Il number of American officers
from Coblentz at the city hall, and sew
eral companies of French infantry rem
dered military honors.
The only words spoken at the cere-
m"ny were by General Dubois. who
said:
The French army feels deeply hon
ored to pay Il simple and loving tribute
To the American unknown soldier"
Later the casket of the American
warrior was placed in the rotunda Of
the city hall, wAich was decorated with
American flowers and flags. The cas-
ket was draped in an American flag
the only flowers on it being the little
bouquet which was used by Sergeant
Younger in making the selection of
the body.
Thousands passed reverently by the
casket, the silence in the rotunda be-
ing broken only by the murmurs of
many women and children who knelt
and prayed beside the coffin. The whole
district Joined in mourning. Great
masses of flowers were brought by
country people, and many children
We're carrying little bouquets of wild
flowers
After the stream of mourners had
passed, the casket was taken on gun
carriage. escorted by pallbearers and
an American guard of honor of twenty
four persons, followed by several ba-
tallionS of French troops, to a special
train scheduled to leave for Paris at
six o'clock in the evening.
Major General Allen was expected to
arrive from Paris i'll time to board the
train. which will remain overnight in
the French capital and then proceed
t. HaVre for the Legion OF Honor cere-
monies before starting for America on
the United States cruiser Olympia
The other three bodies will be re-
inferred in Romagne Cemetery.