Middletown transcript., 1921-11-19
unknown SOLDIER
PLACED IN SHRINE
Every Civilized Country Joins
in Paying Honor to Warrior
NATIONS BOW IN REVERENCE
Simplicity Marks Event. Presldens
Harding and Wilson Lead IN
Historic Demonstration OF
National Mourning.

Historic Demonstration ~
National Mourning.
Washington-With the body OF an
unknown soldier the American people
Friday consecrated an immortal SYM
boil to the tragedies Of war.
Saturday, within plain sight OF MS
tomb, which at historic Arlington will
forever mark the illustrious deeds OF
American valor, the representatives OF
the leading armed nations of the world
will begin building foundation 1or
perpetual peace.
Today the American people bowed
in reverence before the body OF the
unidentified warrior and paid loving
tribute to the heroism of every Amer
ican soldier in the great World War.
Heroism Forever Enshrined.
Tonight, with his heroism forever
enshrined in their hearts, they were
celebrating in word and song, under
the glare of jeweled lights, reflected
in the skies the third anniversary OF
the coming of peace and praying that
never again will the world require
such sacrifices as those that brought
him to his hallowed resting place.
The American Capital, long accus-
toned to military pageants and Off
cial ceremonies, never provided one
that approached in somber and mag
nificent impressiveness and joyous &C.
claim the two phases of its most his
toric day. The features that appealed
most strongly to the mind and heart
were the beauty and simplicity OF
both, the deep well of sentiment
plumbed by the words Of fearful and
grateful acknowledgment Of the cour-
age and patriotism Of all Americans
who gave their lives that the world
might be saved and the joyous popular
demonstration of heartfelt thanks for
escape Of the horrors of war.
Interment Impressive.
OF the two spectacles, that which
characterized the interment Of the
Unknown Soldier in the soil of the
beloved country for which he had
made the supreme sacrifice, will cling
forever In the American mind and
heart.
Following his fag-draped, flower
crested casket mounted on gun car
riage, 1anked by living heroes of the
World War, walked the President OF
the most successful democracy Of the
world, stalwart, alert, but with head
bowed in genuine mourning for the
martyred dead.
Seated in a carriage, his face and
figure rejecting the ravages caused
by the great world conflict, rode the
former President and commander-in-
chief Of the armies in which the un-
identified warrior helped hold aloft
the most beautiful flag in the world
and point the way to victory.
Nations Join In Tribute.
With measured step, the full men,
bership Of the greatest legal tribunal
| in the world and Of the most repre-
sentative legislative body grieved with
them. The leading men of the nation
famed in industry and the arts, the
most celebrated soldiers, sailors and
diplomats Of every civilized nation in
| the world, pathetic groups of gold-star
mothers, each wondering If the I'm
known Hero were her boy, the Grip
| pied and drawn-faced victims of the
devastating devices Of war, and great
| crowds of men, women and children,
all added their word Of praise for the
Unknown One.
| Who, or what he was in life was
Of no moment-white, black, saffron or
brown-who knows? He might have
been a ruddy-cheeked boy from the
| Green Mountains Of Vermont; a gun
man from the Eastside of New York;
a cowboy from the Texas ranges; a
| friendless outcast; an Indian from
the Dakotas; one Of the Latin strain
from the far-fung Philippines, or
Porto Rico; a rugged mountaineer
from the Rockies or the Tennessee
hills-perhaps citizen of African
origin.
Harding Voices Tribute.
There was no thought Of the identity
In life. That will never be known.
The greatest and humblest of citizens,
bowed in reverent devotion before his
dead body, thought Of him only as a
patriot, who had surrendered his life
for his country. Every incident that
characterized the ceremonial culminat-
ing in eulogy Of deeds-the decoration
Of his poor lifeless body with the most
valued testimonials of courage Of his
own country, Great Britain, France
Italy, Rumania, Czecho-Slovakia and
Poland; the tear-stained wreaths Of an
American and British mother and
the odd war bonnet and coup sticks
Of the Indian races Of America
served to emphasize this declaration
by the President of the United States
in sounding the final tribute to the
value Of the great services performed
by him.
"Todays ceremonies proclaim that
the Unknown Is not unhoncred We
gather him to the nations breast with
in the shadow of the Capitol and OF
the towering shaft that honors Wash
e.