Evening star., 1921-11-11
He Who Is Nameless.


No longer is he, whose body was
brought from France and reburied at
Arlington today, an unknown. Name
less he may remain, but he Is now
known as the spirit Of service, as an
American soldier.
Who he was in life. what his sta
ton. what his origin or his contribu-
ton to the daily work of the nation
cannot be determined. Nor can rec
ord be written of his services in war,
his rank, the manner of his death. But
these are of little moment in the light
Of his relation to the task he was
called upon to do. He heard the sum-
mons, he responded, he went over
seas, he suffered the privations and
hardships and the torments of the
battlefield. He faced death-he met it.
He was buried in France beneath a
simple cross without name, with
many others. He was brought back
here to serve as symbol. He be-
comes. In the body that is placed at
rest today. a memorial.
These ceremonies today. rendered
the more impressive by the participa-
tion Of representatives of the allied
countries, whose sons fought shoulder
to shoulder with those Of America, ex-
press the spirit in which the United
States entered the great war. There
was no thought Of gain or glory in the
assumption Of that responsibility and
the shouldering Of that heavy duty.
The manhood Of this country had been
outraged by the injustice Of Germany,
the reputation Of treaties. the un-
speakable atrocities committed by her
soldiers. American patience was long
sustained in recognition Of neutral
ity forced upon this country by its
isolation from the scene of conflict.
Repeated affronts were borne with
diminishing endurance. At last sacred
rights were challenged and denied,
and in response to demand by the
people this government declared war.
How should the American Army be
formed? 1t was wisely decided to
create that fighting force on the prin-
ciple Of universal service. On nc other
basis, indeed. could it have been Great
ed in the time available. And thus the
man who lies now at Arlington may
have come from any walk OF life, from
any profession or occupation, from
any state, any county, any city or
hamlet. For in the organization of the
great armysall were included. And all
served, in the same spirit, in the same
chances for preferrnent and distinc-
ton and honor. the same chances Of
death.
No man whose name was known
could have been chosen as the nations
type, for that would have exalted one
above all others. Only by selecting one
without a name could the memorial
to the service Of American manhood
in the hour Of the great national need
be created and endowed with mean
ing, to last forever.
This Arlington memorial honors per-
petually thought, principle. rather
than the physical remains Of man. 1t
is the principle that lies at the founda-
tions Of this republic. the principle of
mutually, of duty and responsibility.
The American Army of 1918 was
created upon that principle. 1t fought
for it. 1t won its victory for it. And
1t is for those who survive and those
who are to come in the years that all
pray may be years Of peace to main-
tain that principle constantly in all
the daily activities Of life and in all
the, relationships Of citizenship. AS
long as the American people cherish
this principle and respect the memorial
dedicated today they will remain a
great nation.