The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-25
White Roses
Mark Chosen
of MkholDns
Alone in Chapel, Scared
Yank Picks Hero as
Generals Wait.

CHA1ONS-SUR-MA Oct "a
At twilight the unknown American
soldier crossed the Marine for the
last time, this time on a French
caisson, followed by generals and
important officials of the French
government on foot. after passing
through lanes of men and women
who stood in tears. making the sign
of the cross, between rows of chill
dren kneeling in the dust. Behind
the generals and government off,
Gals came Boy Scout of France
carrying an armful of flowers.
The French garrison was drawn
up about the railroad station with
shot-torn battle flags dipping in a
salute and the band playing Les
Girondins," the stirring revolution
airy march, the refrain of which
goes -
ITO die for ones country,
It's the finest fate. worthy Of envy"
And as tie train came to a hart
and the casket was placed aboard.
the musicians crashed into the Star
Spangled Banner.
Chalons Mourns With America.
Chalons never showed such uiver-
sal reverence, even to one of her
own fallen sons. The city seemed to
Re mourning with America for all
the brave boys represented by the
lad in the casket.
Tonight the body rested in the
Care Des Batignolles, guarded by
poilus and doughboys from the
Rhine army. At $3.50 O'Clock tomor-
row the casket will be placed aboard
train for Havre.
The unknown, who will always
remain unknown, was chosen by a
process so simple. so democratic,
that the private soldier was exalt-
ed far above any military superior.
The honors he received from the
people of the ancient city. near the
field where Theodore vanQuished
the hordes of Attila. were beyond
any tribute ever paid to any living
man.
Lays Roses on Chosen CONN.
Sergt. Edward F. Younger, of Chi
cago. a twice-wouoded veteran of the
Second Division, now a member of
the Army of Occupation. carrying a
great bunch of white roses, passed
silently through a lane of general
officers. French and American, into
the temporary mortuary chapel WALL
ed with flowers where four coffins
OF unidentified American soldiers rest
ed. All alone. Sergt. Younger paused
in the chapel before the four collins.
then laid the flowers on the third
one from the left.
As he came out, the generals all
snapped to a salute to the Unknown
lying there in the darkened room
the 1owftest Of their military subor-
dinates. yet honored more in death
than any OF them ever can hope to
be honored. The French band began
playing Chopin's Funeral March, and
six stalwart pallbearers reverently
carried the coffin to the centray ro-
tunda OF the prefecture-a place now
banked with flowers and flags, and
hlied with the atmosphere of a ca
tnedrai. though this Is nonsectarian
France.
And all afternoon the people of
Chalons passede before the coffin
people who had known the Ger
man invasion; simple, sturdy peas
ants. all-bringing their modest trib-
utes of wild flowers. The American
Legion sent great spray of palms.
and the children Of the city also
paid touching tribute in memory of
their friends. the American soldiers,
who passed through their town on
the way to throw back the Ger
mans when the war seemed lost.
All night long a guard from the
Rhine army had stood over the four
| cofins fro mwhich one was to be
chosen by Sergt. Younger.