Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-24
Taps Sound
Today For
Merle Hay
Solemn, Reverent Spirit Pre-
walls in Clidden Where
Third Yank to Fall
Will Be Buried.
Town Nouns, But Proud
BY J. T. ARMSTRONG,
Staff Correspondent.

Merle ~. hay VIII ne Durled at Z.oo
Sunday afternoon.
The event overshadows any other
one that ever took place in Glidden.
A solemn, reverent spirit prevails in
y 1.lc village and the surrounding
countryside. Main street was quiet
today on the eve of the ceremony.
Voices were hushed as details of the
coming burial were discussed. Men
blew their noses vigorously and
women dabbed at eyes which were
Yunusually bright as they discuss, j
little incidents i'll the life of Merle.
He had gone to war with several
other Glidden boys back in May, 1917.
There had been celebration, din
ner at the Methodist church; the
band had played. Then came the
news of his death in the first engage
ment in which American troops par
ticipated across the sea. He was one
of the first three American soldiers
to give their lives for their country
in the great war.
Sorrowful But Proud.
Glidden was sorrowful but it also
was proud. One Glidden matron
cried openly today as she told how
Merle had loved his horse. He had
trained it-he called it "Nig'-since
it was a colt 1t learned to follow
him about and whinnied eagerly
whenever he approached: Just be-
fore leaving home for the train which
was to carry him to the training
y camp, Merle went to the barn where
Mig" was tied. He stayed there
for some time. AS he lett, he wiped
away tear. ,.--..
Neighbors declared that mig" has
hardly whinnied since that day.
Merle's mother, Mrs. H. d. Hay,
is trying to be very brave as the time
.-for the funeral approaches. Her
voice broke, though, as she told how
her son had called her his only sweet
heart.
He was SO strong and good and
brave" she said.
Funeral in School Yard.
Funeral services will be held in
the open air in the yard OF Gldden's
old brick public school. Merle once
played in this same school yard. A
platform has been erected for the
speakers. To the right space has
been roped off for Merle's rela-
tives, his father and mother, his
married sister and his brother, Ba-
I'll. Still to the right is space for
the veterans of the civil war, men,
bers of the G. A. R
Scores OF autcists are expected to
arrive in Glidden early tomorrow
morning. Many of them will come
on the Merle highway, named for
the dead hero. The Lincoln highway
will be blocked during the funeral
tomorrow to prevent interruption.
Governor Kendall OF Iowa has or
dered that flags be kept at halt
mast the entire day.
]. T. Sayers, chaplain of the
Brown American Legion post at
Jefferson, Ia; Charles Helmar,
chaplain of the Dunn post at Carroll,
and Sheriff Rcbb of Des Moines,
all cx-service men, will be the speak
ers. Merle Hay post of the Ameri-
can Legion will have charge of the
service.
Body Lies in StatA
The body of Glidden's hero lies in
state in the. American Legion hall,
constantly by ex-service
men. Near the coffin are flowers
placed on it by General Pershing
and the War Mothers of Hoboken,
N. J. .o,.
and half way across the continent,
the body will find final rest in the
tiny Glidden cemetery, half a mile
cast of town. The cemetery is on a
slight rise, giving a view of the sar-
rounding corn fields and green rolling
pastures that melt in the distance
into a purple haze, just such a scene
of typical western beauty as young
Merle Hay used to look upon in the
strength of his youth.