The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-11-10

from France at last, and the nation
! has no honor too great for him. In
him, 1t pays its unstinted tribute OF
glory to all those sleeping in the far
soil of France. 1t was their home
coming; their day of days in the
.leart of the nation, and they must
have known it, for the heart beat of
nation defies the laws of space,
even OF eternity.
The ceremonies were brief, They
began when the far boom of saluting
cannon down the river signalized the
coming Of the great gray steamer
Olympia. Slowly the ship drew into
her dock. Astern, under the long,
gray muzzle of gun that once
echoed its way into history more
than twenty years ago in Manila
Bay, lay the flag draped casket.
Cars bearing Secretaries Weeks
and DENLY, Assistant Secretary Vain.
right, General Pershing, Major Gen
eral Harbord, Admiral Coontz and
Major General Lejeune, the marine
commandant, and their aides, rolled
up These highest officers of the
army and navy formed in line facing
down the open space between the
troops and marines.
On deck the bugles called attention
A group of petty officers stepped for
ward to raise the casket, A gun
crashed to the first drumming roll OF
the minute guns Of sorrow. The
Olympia's band sounded the opening
chords OF Chopin's funeral march and
to the slow half-step and carried high
on the shoulders OF his navy aud
marine corps comrades, the unknown
was tenderly lifted to the dock
Admiral Chandler and his aides
came behind, cooked hats off in the
cold rain and held across their
breasts. Below the cabinet mem
bers also stood bareheaded in the
rain, the army and navy officers at
salute.
Just as tie casket passed OUT
through the rails, oversize to the
plank, the wall of the bo'sun's pipe
sounded shrily the last salute OF the
sea to the dead. 1t sounded oddly
against the background of the dirge
and as the sound of the pipe died
away. the gun forward barked again
the passing of another minute.
Slowly the fag-draped casket
moved down between the line OF
troops and marines. AS II came
abreast Of the ships band, the dirge
was stilled, marine bugler sounded
four hourishes and salutes to gen
eral officer and the strains of the
Star Spangled Banner rang ont, the
Naticn's own hymn of freedom.
The soldiers took over the burden
at the gun carriage and then could
be seen withered handful OF flow
ers. the only decoration on the flag
wrapped casket. They were the
blooms with which this casket was
chosen from the others there IN
France before the long journey home
began. Throue.h it all they have lain
there above the breast Of the dead
yellowing with each passing day
They will 20 with the unknown p
his last sleep in the stone crypt al
Arlington.
The waiting guard which would
stand through the long night about
the bier stood at present arms as the
casket was carried into the capitol
and set in place on the high, black
draped structure on which the body
of Mckinley was last to repose III
state.
| There was a pause then until out
on the plaza furry announced tUt
President and Mrs. Harding had ar
rived. TIE last rites Of the day were
at hand.
AS the President and Mrs Harding
came into the dim chamSr brilliant
lights leaped up TO make possible q
plcturing of the scenes for all
America TO see. The cameras click
ed. There was no other sound.
Mrs. Harding stepped forward a
wide white ribbon in her hand she
had stitched it herself and stepping
I'M on re base of the eatafalque she
laid 1t across the casket, a slash oil
white across the rain-sodden flag
with its cluster OF French flowers. AS
Mrs. Harding stepped down, the
President took her place and to the
ribbon pinned silver shield OF the
United states, set Win loi ~ GIG ~
golden stars. 1t is symbolic OF the
heart of the nation that goes with
this soldier to his tomb
Then a great wreath Of crimson
roses was handed to Mr., Harding and
he laid it softy on the casket near
the head ard gave place to Vice
President Coolidge and Speaker Gil
lett, who moved forward together TO
lay the tribute of Congress, a wreath
of pink roses and snapdragons in
place. Chief Justice Taft moved for
ward bearing tie floral tribute of the
Supreme Court, wreath Of chrysan.