Tombstone epitaph., 1921-01-30
PAGE TWO
CLAY MCKNIGHT BURIED
 WITH HoNoRs AT PEARcE

yesterday afternoon.
 Borrowing friends of the deceased and the bereaved family, formed the large assemblage that gathered from the Sulphur Spring valley ranches and neishborins towns. to pay its last respects to one who had given all for the land he loved.
 Clay Mcknight entered the service from Pearce on October Srd, 1917. He was placed with the 10th Division and trained at Camp Kearney. California. In June 1918 he was sent overseas with replacement troops. and at Bar zy, France. was assigned to Company II. 3oth T.. S Infantry On the morn ing of August 10th. 1918, Companies II and C were ordered to advance an I establish q hridsehead on the north side of the Nesle River, near Nilette in this charge he was caught in ter
 
 rife barrage and was sassed. In the two companies engaged in this charge fearful slaughter On August 12th he was received at the hospital at Marsur-Allier. unconscious. and his case diagnosed as inhalation of gas and burns of the body" The latter wounds were inflicted by liquid fire. He died August 18th. 1918. and was buried the following day in the Am erican cemetery at Mars. near Meyers.
 Speaking of him as a soldier. his commander has written: He was an excellent soldier. never complaining. and always put his duty to his coun- try first" No greater tribute to him as a defender of his countrys princi- ples could possibly be paid
 The finer traits. and the most vivid Nh ot HIS AistilAObu "do tht praise from the lips of his fellow townsmen Foremost among these was his devotion to his aged parents. He worked in the mines at Pearce. mak- ing his home with the family on a homestead five miles from town. Ev- cry day he walked to and from the homestead to his work al the mines. all his earnings going toward the es- tablishing of the homestead. a place where the aged paren:s could make their home.
 Such devotion as displayed by Clay Mcknight toward his parents and family cannot be described by the tongue. The full degree can only be grasped by the heart.
 As the choir sang "Someday Well Understand" it was plainly evident that those present fully understood. and though they came to bury him as a soldier and, hero of his country. they also buried him as soldier and hero of God
 The services were held in the Idle Hour theater. filled to overfiowing by friends of the deceased. Ex-service men from Willcox, the Sulphur Spring valley and Tombstone were among those present, paying their last res poets to a fallen comrade.
 The program was opened by the choir singing Onward Christian Sol diers." Invocation and address Dy Rev. A. J. Benedict. Gov. Campbell's message to the family was read by Mir. c. NJ. Renaud, who also delivered a tribute to the life of Clay Mcknight.
 Mrs A. Y Smith spoke in behalf of the Red Cross organization of that section Attorney Lyman H. Hays of Wilcox delivered an eloquent address in tribute to the departed hero. ..
 The funeral procession was formed for the march to the cemetery. mem bers of the Clay Mcknight Post of Pearce acting as pallbearers. A firing squad was present from the Willcox Post
 At the cemetery the choir sang Safe in the Arms of Jesus." as the casket was lowered. A closing pray CT by Rev. Benedict. salute by the firing squad. A bugler sounded taps"
 And the body of Clay Mcknight had been buried meath the sod of the land he loved the best. and to which he Ionged and planned to return
 The bereaved family, in their hour of sorrow. had the united sympathy of their community, and the strong as-