Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1921-11-24

Armistice day in Washington was
filled with interesting and history
making events, from the beginning o1
the procession with the body of oul
unknown hero at the Capitol, to the
turning on OF the brilliant lights up
on the jeweled arch that marked the
opening of the wonderful conference
for peace.
We were fortunate in having a
room in a hotel on Pennsylvania
Ave-, from which to view the funeral
procession. which was an impressive
review.
Behind the fowerdecked bier
walked President Harding with Gen.
Pershing-both handsome and splen-
did looking them came regular army
war organizations, war workers or
.ganizations, veterans of other wars,
medal heroes Of the world war.
wounded soldiers from the Walter
Reid Hospital, and representatives
from every division and place Of war,
all passing by in silence, the silence
requested for this occasion, until the
carriage drawn by two horses, with
Negro driver and footman, in which
were seated ex-president and Mrs.
Woodrow Wilson, appeared. Then
the applause broke out, on either side
of the street, and continued as they
drove by. 1t was surprise to Mr..
Wilson and he seemed bit embar
rassed, but he met the outsp0ken
greeting of friends with dignity, as
with hat off he graveiy accepted this
spontaneous tribute. This was the
only applause given, except slight
applause given for the Salvation Ar
my women, and in both instances It
was a touching outpouring of feeling.
After the procession was over, we
joined the perfect jam of automobiles
in an >Gttempt to reach Arlington, and
we were almost three hours going,
as the two bridges over the Potomac
were not adequate for the number
less automobiles. Therefore the
traffic, and unfortunately some OF
the foreign delegates turned back
discouraged and missel the impress
sive services at Arlington. But thru
persistane and patience we reached
the ampitheatre in time to hear the
entire program, which through the
help Of the wonderful amplifiers plac-
ed in the building, could be heard In
any part of the cemetery.
After President Harding's address,
a musical program was given by sing
ers from the New York Metropolital,
with Rose Ponselle as soloist. Then
the representatives of England,
France, Poland, Roumania, Belgium,
and Gen. Pershing for America, plac-
ed honor medals on the casket of the
unknown hero. After prayer and the
song Nearer My God To Thee" the
casket was brought from the ampi- |
theatre and placed In the tomb to |
rest, surrounded by the heroes OF
other wars, in sight of Washington,
and Lincoln monuments, with the
beautiful Potomac flowing by, and
the done of the Capitol towering in
majesty in the distance.
We then drove back to the city. had
4 hasty lunch and Joined the crowds
of people gathered in front of ex-
president Wilson's home. They had
been there since 2 o'clock and 1t was
Tour when we arrived. He had been
put on the piazza to shake hands with
she wounded soldiers from Walter
Reid Hospital, and to the cheering
friends he had said:
4 II wish I had the voice to express
ny thanks for your kindness. May |
7od bless you!" And we missed
Nearing his voice, but soon after we
arrived 1t was announced: "Mr VIII
ION will appear one more time at the
and a young man standing
~ me said: "He has had. to lie
lown but is going to get up again,
ike good old scout" And when
drs. Wilson came to the window and
lrew back the curtains. then assist
d her husband to the window, this |
'oung man led the cheering with