The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1921-10-28
j, s, MEDAL TO
BRITISH HERO
Symbol of Sacrifice, Says Persh-
ing, Bestowing Honor at Cere-
mony in Westminster Abbey.
THOUSANDS PAY TRIBUTE
LLOYD George Asserts Action Is Guar
anty Of Peace to Nations Valiant
Dead-Empire's Highest Dec
oration Awarded by King.

H.
laid the Congressional Medal of Honor
upon the toni of the unknown British
soldier in Westminster Abbey. The
ceremony itself, in the abbey's inspir-
ing precincts, was charged with SOL
emn sentiment of high aspiration.
The climay of the days ceremonies,
beginn'-g in the shadow OF those
Westminster tombs whose names are
lust as familiar in America as in Eng
land, came at night, however, When
Sir Lalning Worthington Evans, Brit
ish secretary of state for war, pre-
siding at a dinner in honor Of General
Pershing, read telegram King George
had sent to President Harding, an
nouncing that Britain would bestoW
the Victoria Cross, for the first time
on the subject of any other state, on
Americas unknown soldier in wash
ington on November II.
1t would have been difficult to De-
lieve that Britain and America were
anything less than cousins during this
event. The statue Of Abraham LIN
coin saw files of British guardsmen
and of Yankee "doughboys" and sail
ors face to face through Parliament
Square Inside tie dim magnit1cences
of the abbey Chatham's statue looked
down as the Kings uncle, the Duke OF
Connaught; the American ambassador,
George Harvey, and the prime minis
ter, Mr.. Lloyd George, gathered about
the grave which is symbolic of all
Britain's sacrifice in the war, and as
General Pershing stepped forward to
lay on that grave all that America can
say in praise of valor, the Congression-
al Medal of Honor, shaft of sunlight.
sheer American in its crystalline
brightness, shot down through the
shadows storied of all the greatnesses
of Americas and Britain's common
stock, over tombs that bore names
which might be found in any grave
yard in America, and twinkled a COM
mon benediction on the scene. And
while all these symbols told Of COM
mon blood General Pershing and Mr..
Lloyd George voiced the political ties
of the two nations.
General Pershing said: And now in
this holy "anctuary, in the name OF the
President and the people Of the Unit
ed States, / place upon this unknown
warriors tomb a medal of honor con-
ferred upon him by special act of the
American Congress, in commemOration
of the sacrifices of our British COM
rade and his fellow countrymen, and
as slight token of our gratitude and
affection toward this people"
The prime minister replied:
'This homage will be interpreted as
a solemn pledge given the valiant dead
that these two mighty people who were
comrades in the great war have re-
solved to remain comrades to guaran-
tee a great peace"
The ceremony was over with the
British "Last Post Then a band
struck up Sousa's Stars and Stripes
Forever" and to this inspiring tune
the captains and the Kings represent
atives left the abbey with a final sa
lutte to the universal hero.
The American party then went to
the cenotaph, where Genera! PerShing
laid magnificent wreath Of bays,
twined with American flags. He had
luncheon with the Duke of COnnaught
had tea with Mr.. and Mrs. Cornelius
Vanderbilt and dined as the guest of
the government. Later he motored to
Portsmouth.
Victoria Cross on Unknown Soldier
London.-The British government
decided to award the Victoria Cross,
the highest award, to Americas ''un-
known warrior"
This announcement was made by Sir
Laming Worthington Evans, secretary
of war. who presided at a government
dinner in honor of General Pershing.
In making the announcement he said
that King George had conferred upon
the American unknown warrior the
highest decoration known to the Brit
ish Empire-tFe Victoria Cross