The Washington herald., 1921-11-10
Leaders of Nation Lay
Wreaths on Bier of Un-
known Soldier,
- -
OLYMPIA FIRES
PARTING SALUTE
Brings Earth From
France Upon Which Sa-
cred Casket Will Rest.

Ano StHlL Oh America To-Day IN
enshrined IN Washington.
Under the dome OF the great capS.
tol. in that rotunda which has re-
echoed with the tramp of the men
who have brought fame 20 this ma
uons there today reposes the SYM
Dol of its greatness Within a
nag-bedecked casket, guarded in
solemn isolation, are the mortal re-
mains OF what not so long ago was
an American soldier.
HIS name Is unknown. HIS birth
place is recorded ofacially oniy I'm
the book Of golden deeds. He is III.
unknown dead" brought back bere
from that France whose soil was
watered with his life blood thar he
might typify the spirit of repub-
licanism, OF the democracy that has
set an example TO the world of what
q nation must be permanently 20
endure No one ever can know who
he was
May Have Been Immisr.ut.
He may be the scion Of one OF the
most illustrious of American fam
Ines. He may be the son Of one
OF the immigrants who have com.
to the United States TO escape for
etgn pomp and power, and live nm
der that flag which assures TO an
equality OF endeavor and equality
OF purpose. He may in life have
been one Of these Immigrants WIN.
product OF the melting pot Of Amer
lea, swore allegiance TO the starry
banner and carried into direct ac-
ton that oath by taking weapon TO
battle for perpetuation OF his be-
loved adopted nation
1t is idle to speculate on who he
was Today he is America personi-
fed. Beside his flag bedecked
casket today and tomorrow thou
sands will pass. The prayers OF his
fellows win ascend like sacred in
cense TO the Lord of Hosts in CRATE
tul acknowledgment that he lived
and that he has been returned here
TO remain forever as a shrine where
Lovers Of liberty may reclothe their
spirit and reconsecrate their lives 10
an ideal
Nations Leaders Pay TriLatr.
Last night the President OF the
United states and Mrs Harding. the
chief justice Of the Supreme Court
and his associated Justices the Vice
PRESIDENT and the leaders OF the
Senate and the House paid tribute
to the unknown. with their own
hands they deposited wreaths OF
mowers on the casket as an ac-
knowledgment of what he had done
In life. They stood in silent PRAYER
for that soul released more than
three years ago from its earthly
form of clay.
Then they passed on into the busy
world to permit that American TO
rest in quiet solitude until the com
ing day when his fellows, oriciaI
and private citizen. can pay their
nnaI tribute and pass mournfully by
proud that they, too, are Americans.
Soldiers Guard Casket.
II seemed only fitting that this
American soldier should spend an
entire night in solitary exemDIi-
fication Of the spirit Of the nation.
Picked soldiers. all veterans OF that
titanic conflict in which he had
given his all for the country. stood
guard beside the casket In com
plete silence they stood vatcbinF
guarding. They did not fear that
human agency would disturb that
still shell-torn form. They simply
paid honor and personal tribute 70
the tradition Of the nation. Here
valor reposed.
The martyrs Of the nation. Lin
coin, Garfield. Mckinley, all had
slept the early hours Of their last
long sleep in this same place. Their
spirits had made sacred this hal
lowed spot But last night the flag
bedecked casket simplified the mes
sage they had initiated. Half
stated flags, bugle calls, tributes
from high and low stiIl were 10
ha aWtH aF
the identity Of the individual. WAS
present.
Olympia Brings Body
The body of the American SOL
der reached Washington yesterday
afternoon on Admiral Dewey's his
toric cruiser. the Olympia. flagship
Of the Asiatic squadron in the Span
ish American war. Throughout
Tuesday night the cruiser remained
at anchor in the Potomac river off
Indian Head From the moment
she passed inside Of the Virginia
Capes her precious burden had been
the object Of the highest honoTs
that a republic could pay.
The forts off the Chesapeake had
fired the national salute Of 81 guns
At the very entrance TO the Potomac
River the great battleship Nurta
Dakota, bristling with high pow
cred guns. had fired the national
salute and dipped her ensign it
honor Of the dead Fort Washing
ton had added its tribute. Passing
Mount Vernon the crew OF the
Olympia remained at attention
while the ship bell tolled out a tri-
butte 70 the tomb Of Americas FIRST
Chie< Executive. Again at WASH
ington Barracks came another sa-
lutte.
Old Cruiser Adds Her Salute.
And. finally, when the casket con-
tanning the enshrined body was
taken back TO that land for which
he had sacrificed his life, the old
cruiser sent forth from her own
guns a last salutation.
The falling rain dampened but
in no way marred the ceremony nj
the navy yard. All along the route
to the city the o. -piR had been
escorted by river craft Of every de-
scription. all with their colors hy-
ing at half mast In Potomac Park.
and along the lower banks Of the.
river hundreds OF people had re-
mained waiting during the after