The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-11-11
OF THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES
AT the Burial Of an Unknown Ameri-
can Soldier at Arlington Ma
ffonal Cemetery Today

&c pay the lnnperSonai tribute. Inc
nanne of him whose body lies before us
took fight with his imperishable soul.
We know not whence he came, but
only that his death marks him with
tho everlasting glory of an Ameri-
can DYING for his country.
He might have come from any one
of millions of American homes. Some
mother gave him in her love and ten
dcrness, and with him her most cher
ished hopes. Hundreds of mothers
are wondering today, finding a touch
of solace in the possibility that the
nation bows in grief over the body of
one she bore to live and die, il need
be, for the republic. If we give rein
to fancy, a score Of sympathetic
chords are touched, for in this body
there once glowed the soul of an
American, with the aspirations and
ambitions of citizen who cherished
life and its opportunities. He may
have been a native or an adopted son;
that matters little. because they glori-
fed the same loyalty, they sacrificed
alike.
We do not know his station in life,
because from every station came the
patriotic response of the five millions.
! recall the days of creating armies,
and the departing of caravels which
braved the murderous seas to reach
the battle lines for maintained ma
tionality and preserved civilization.
The service flag marked mansion and
cottage alike, and riches were common
to all homes in the consciousness of
service to country.
We do not know the eminence of his
birth, but we do know the glory of
his death. He died for his country,
and greater devotion hath no man
than this. He died unquestioning, un-
complaining, with faith in his heart
and hope on his lips, that his country
should triumph and its civilization
survive. AS typical soldier of this
representative democracy, he fought
and died believing in the indisputable
justice of his country's cause. Con-
scious of the worlds upheaval, apprais-
ing the magnitude of a war the like
of which had never Mortified humanity
before, perhaps he believed his TO be
service destined to change the tide
80 b,,.,aor affoixo
In the death gloom of gas, the
bursting of shells and rain of bullets,
men face more intimately the great
God over all, their souls are afiame,
and consciousness expands and hearts
are searched. With the din of battle,
the glow of conflict, and the supreme
trial of courage. come involuntarily
the hurried appraisal of life and the
contemplation of deaths great mys-
terry. On the Threshold of eternity,
many soldier, can well believe,
wondered how his ebbing blood would
lcolor the stream of human life, flow
ing on after his sacrifice. His patriot
4
than triumph of country; rather, it
was greater If he hoped for victory
for all human kind. Indeed, revere
that citizen whose confidence in the
righteousness of his country inspired
belief that its triumph is the victory
of humanity.
| This American soldier went forth to
battle with no hatred for any people
in the world. but hating war and hat
ing the purpose of every war for con-
Guest. He cherished our national
rights, and abhorred the threat of
armed domination; and in the mael-
strom of Instruction and suffering and
death he fired his shot for liberation
OF the captive conscience of the world
In advancing toward his objective was
somewhere a thought of world
awakened; and we are here to testify
undying gratitude and reverence for
that thought of wider freedom.
On such an occasion as. this, amid
such a scene, our thoughts alternate
between defenders living and defend
ers dead. A grateful republic viii be
worthy of them both. Our part is to
atone for the losses of heroic dead by
making better republic for the hv-
ing.
Sleeping in these hallowed grounds
are thousands of Americans who have
given their blood for the baptism of
freedom and its maintenance, armed
opponents of the nations conscience.
1t is better and nobler for their deeds.
Burial here is rather more than a
sign of the governments favor, it is
a suggestion of a tomb in the heart of
the nation, sorrowing for its noble
dead.
Today's ceremonies proclaim that
tie hero unknown is not unhonored
We gather him to the nations breast,
within the shadow of the capitol, OF
the towering shaft that honors Wash
ington. the great father. and of the
exquisite monument to Lincoln, the
nartyred savior. Here the inspira-
ton of yesterday and the conscience
of today forever unite to make the
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