The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-09-08
As Others See II
FLOWERS FOR THEM ALL
(Tanpa Tribune.)


While in Tampa, Congressman H. J. Drane
from the first Florida district spoke of the burial
at Arlington of Private z. n. T0Cas!cy one of
the Tampa boys who died in France during the
war. Mr. Drane said he mentioned at his hotel
that he was going to attend the burial of the
body OF this boy from Tampa, and man nearby,
hearing asked: May l not 60 and represent
his father?" and before answer could ba-given a
distinguished woman who had overheard the con-
versaton came up and cried: "Oh, Mr. Drane
won't you let me go and represent his mother?"
And so they went, the congressman from this
district, and strange man and strange woman
whose hearts were filed with the love of the dead
in that war, and whose hearts burned to comfort
in way the father and mother of the lad,
and whose souls cried out against that sacred
dust being laid away without the presence of one
who loved him.
Arriving at the cemetery, direction was sought
for finding the number of the grave. 20, that
will be easy to find" said the Interchangeable.
THAT is in one of the small sections. There are
only one hundred and thirteen open graves in
that section today" And so they found it,
All over the great memorial resting place for
sainted dead of many wars the open graves
yawned All over the vast expanse were gath
cred knots of men and women come to pay the
though eternally loved. And the voices of preach
er, priest and rabbi, mingled in the hush of that
mid summer day, as dust committed to dust,
and ashes fell lightly on ashes; and the sup
pressed sob of mother was merged in the
stifed sigh OF a father each trying to be brave
but failing.
Them when the last shovel of earth had been
placed on the last grave, a memorial wreath of
real flowers laid on each.
Whence came these flowers? From what source
has come the thousands of wreaths that have been
placed on the thousands of graves made weekly?
Who is that-little woman moving silently and I'M
obtrusvely about the great resting place of gori-
Gus achievement? A representative of the Amer
lean Red Cross.
Said Mr.. Drane: Not since the first returned
body of our sacred dead was placed in Arl-
ington has a grave been left until tribute of
flowers was placed it. Not a single grave of
the thousands made the day | was there
but bore its wreath of beauty and fragrance In
the name of your mother, those wreaths are
placed. In the sacred esteem of your country
they are laid; and no burial day passes when this
woman or another of the American Red Cross
is not on hand to see that each grave is covered
with flowers, and to see that no mothers son is
laid away in loneliness without the comforting
heart of woman near to press the hand of love
on his coffin"
Those who have denounced the Red Cross for
its attempt to keep up organization during peace
times" may measure this service against any
cost in mere money if they will. And the worth
OF the service will so far outweigh the value Of
the coin that the scale will throw into oblivion
the cash that it cost, while the act the love- the
service will be forever recorded as one of those
deeds done to "the least of these"
The Tribune thanks Mr. Drane for the picture
he has given the nation of that burial service
of that attention of that great world wide heart
of love, and for that renewed faith, and conf
dence, and love for the American Red Gross.