Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-11-16
DEBORAH BOY
IN WASHINGTON
Carl Nelson, Brother County Atty.
J. A. Nelson, Writes About
Burial Americas I'M
known Soldier.
ATTENDED SERVICES
AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY
Carl is Now Student at the George
. Washington University in the
Capitol City.

The following letter was received
by Anton Bernatz Post No. 1853,
The American Legion, from one of
its members, Mr.. Carl Nelson, son
of A. A. Nelson of this city. Since
| it deals with subject that has
community, permission to publish it
hsa been granted.
Washington, ID. c.
Nov. IL, 1921.
Dear Comrades: / was appointed
Correspondent to the Iowa Legion
aire by the Anton Bernatz Post and
in which capacity / miserably failed,
| due for the most part to my iif-
dolent nature. So | shall take this
opportunity to atone for that indol-
ence by giving you description of
the ceremonies that took place here,
in connection with the burial of
Americas unknown hero.
The city of Washington has had
occasion to witness the return of
triumphant armies, to honor all kinds
of foreign notables and to pay its
last solemn tribute to martyred
Presidents, but it has never accord
ed any of these the tribute that it
paid to the nameless soldier that
was laid to rest in Arlington on the
Ord anniversary of the signing of
the Armistice. Since the afternoon
of Nov. 9th, when Dewey's old flag
ship, the Olympic, which brought
the body back from France, steamed
| up the Potomac, until taps was
played over the grave at Arlington
cemetery, the city seemed to for
get all other things.
The body lay in state in the
rotunda of the Capitol from a. m.
until 10 p. m. on Nov. 10th, during
which time sorrowing throng of
10O,0 900 people passed silently by the
bier. All the time while the body
| Jay in state different organizations
conducted snort services. One organt
ization would no sooner complete its
services than some other would be-
gin like service.
The most impressive of all was the
funeral procession which escorted the
body from the Capitol to its last
resting place in Arlington Cemetery
The procession was led by Gen.
Bandholtz, followed by various units
of Infantry, Cavalry, Marines and
Sailors. The caisson bearing the
body was preceded by the clergy who
officiated in the services. Directly
behind the caisson marched Gen.
Pershing and President Harding, ac-
companied by their aides, and back
of them Admiral Coontz, Vice Presi-
dent Coolidge. Admiral Jones and
Chief Justice Taft. Following them
was the man who had acted as Com
mander in Chief of the Army and
Navy at the time the unknown hero
gave his life, and on sight of him
the crowd forgot that it was a fun
eral procession and cheered him. 1t
certainly is an unusual occurrence to
see three men who have held the
executive chair march in the same
procession. Back of ex-President
Wilson, was the Supreme Court,
members of the Cabinet, Gov
ernors of the States, the Senate,
members of the house of representa-
tives, and then organizations such as
the congressional medal of honor
men, G. A. R., Confederate Veterans,
American Legion, Gold Star Mothers,
nurses, and many other organizations
too numerous for me. to remember.
The crowd at Arlington was so
great that / did not get very close,
but thanks to modern science one
did not have to be close to hear all
that was said in the course of the
ceremony. The Amphitheatre an
which the services were conducted
was equipped with amplifiers so the
speaker could be heard distinctly
anywhere within the grounds.
Pres. Harding's address was Won
derful, considering both, the thought
and the clear ringing voice in which
it was delivered. He first paid tri-
but to the men who answered their
country's call in an hour of need and
then expressed hope of banishing
further need of such sacrifice. He
/ spoke of the Marine Shamm battle
or rather the maneuvers he had wit
messed on the old Civil War battle.
grounds, known as the Wilderness,
and how he was impressed by the
lfrightfulness of modern warfare. He
expressed his hope for "a better un-
following in the path Of this more
civilized means of settling inteIna-
tional disputes. He closed his speech
with the Lords Prayer and was join
ed in this by the audience. Follow
ing the Presidents address came the
decorations conferred by the Allies
upon Americas unknown hero. Gen
Jacques acted for Belgium, Admiral
Beatty for England, Marshal Foch
for France, and Gen. Diaz for Italy
There were ecorations given by Po-
land and Czecho-S -Slovakia but
don't know who conferred them anC
suppose it matters little so long
as they were given in all good faith
After the program in the Amphi-
! theatre there was short service al
1.-THE sarcophagus where the unknown
jhero, who signifies all of Americas