The Washington times., 1921-11-12

Will Delegates
Heed Message
OF Yesterday?
E. d die Rickenbacker
Says That Unless
They DO, War
Dead Haze
Died In
Vain.

DteQ IN
Vain.
BY CAPT. EDDIE RICKENBACKER.
American Ace Of Aces.
tCepyrisht. 1871, By Chrtsty walsh
syndicste.)
"The like Of this has never occurred
before In the history Of America" !
heard this simple statement In tho
great crowd that witnessed the pass
ing Of the unknown hero yesterday.
A reply came Instantly. reverent-
ly, and perhaps prophetically: May
God forbid that 1t ever occur again. I"
Mothors' Vicws.
Both speakers were mothers. The
first q young woman. with two tod
ding lads, OF whom she was ap-
parently very proud. The little fell
lows were too young to be soldiers,
but not too young to glory At the
sight Of soldiers.
The other mother. the one who
spoke In reply was not SO young. She
had no boy At her side. but size did
now - AscSc" W SaSpo fioi - iH
with q gold star In the middle. /
wondered II she knew exactlv where
her boy was sleeping his last sleep:
! wondered II that nameless casket
passing by could possibly hold an
answer for which she had yearned.
But, with that silent reminder on
her sleeve, ! did not wonder at her
prayer. May God forbid that II
ever occur again"
Had the unknown hero been per-
mitted to speak one sentence. that.
I am positive, would have been his
plea. For surely this brave little
mother had voiced the prayer Of
the thousands of mourners on Ie
sidewalk and the millions Of moth.
ers throughout America.
An Indelible Lesson.
In civilian clothes. but with a SOL
tons Of how this fallen hero must
have lived and died, beheld q les
son that will never leave my mind.
The lifeless lad being laid to rest
had been just one of q crowd: at
random he had been selected and
honored with a summons to his coun-
try's colors. and at random his
crushed remains had been selected
for 20 great an honor.
In this much. ! was on a footing
with him, for I watched him pass
a. an unknown citizen in a great
crowd. a crowd that was charge
with the spirit Of gratitude and gress
concern for the future. And after
all. It 10 in crowds and from crowds
that we obtain the thought of
America.
The solemn procession. starting
reached its destination. where rest
before.
Stalwart oomrads carried him to
the hillcrest at the conclusion Of .
sacred program. and 1t would seem
perhaps that everything humanity
possible had finally been done to
honor and perpetuate the deeds OF
American soldiers who had fallen In
the war.
But II this is ali. the myriad flow.
crs. the high military honors, the
people In mourning. the magnificent
procession. were all in vain. II our
obligations are now complete, II were
etter that his glorious body remained
in France. where he fell in honorable
battle.
Tho Turning Point.
When the unknown hero Of yester-
days impressive pageant took his
place in battle. 1t marked the turn
ing point in the great war. and now
that he has taken his place in
Arlington. can II not be that 1t will
mark the turning point in tho great
peace7
Before the sod has settled on his
honored grave, the leading nations
of tho universe win begin delibera-
tions within sight Of where he
sleeps. The men who but yesterday
honored him with all the gorgeous
decorations Of their powerful govern
ments have 1t within their power to
prove their words by deeds. I wonder
will these brilliant statesmen who
paused In silence. two whole minutes
Friday. pause as long before their
future actions may bring the world
again to chaos and despair.
America was last to take her
place In the great war. and America
10 the last to pay homage and respect
to her unknown hero.
Like the dear little mother beside
me an the sidewalk. my prayer il,
May God forbid that It ever occur
again"