The New York herald., 1921-03-13
Where Chateau Thierry Heroes Rest
Americans Find Well Cared For Graves in Beautiful
Surroundings at Beleau Woods.

To THE NEW YoRK HERALD: One
who lives In Chateau Thierry is daily
impressed with the different feelings
which prompt visitors to seek these
battlefelds.
Tourists In large number come with
Idle curiosity Again there are those
who come to revisit the fields where
they themselves have fought One sees
an indescribable expression como upon
the face of him who is seeing the exact
place where his own gallant charge was
made. He sees the place where the
ruined house stood in Bouresches or
Vaux behind which he lay when wait
Ing for the stretcher to bring him 20 the
1t had been realized yesterday. 1t Is
most interesting to hear them recall the
stories minutely with the local setting.
Another class OF visitors deeply In
terest us. They are those who have
made the long journey to the resting
place of their dear dead. Chateau
Th!srry has been the one great objec-
tive in all their long travel. They
have come to 1t as TO a shrine made
sacred with the precious blood OF sac
rifce. From the moment when first
they saw the name OF the loved one in
the list Of those lost in action there
has been the passionate desire to visit
Chateau Thierry and lay flowers upon
his grave.
Beileau Woods Cemetery is within four
miles of Chateau S'hierry. 1t was there
the American army first engaged in the
war, and where it signally distinguished
itself by It's brilliant flghting. II was
here also that very large number Of
our boys fell in the battle. There are
at present 2.7e6 burials in this place.
1t has been with a tender Joy that
we have met some OF tho visitors who
have come to Belleau seeking the graves
of their boys. OF course 1t is possible
for only small number to make this
long pilgrimage. Often we wish It were
possible for the multitudes who are In
the homeland to see the beautiful place
where their boys are now resting. Many
visitors have not only placed flowers
upon the graves of their own dead but
have sought out the graves OF other boys
whose friends were not 50 fortunate and
have laid flowers there for those who
were at home. A wealthy man and his
wife spent months In Paris year ago.
making frequent visits through rain and
cold, searching out the graves OF boys
who were friends OF his own and placing
wreaths upon their graves.
Ono beautiful feature of onr Belleau
Woods is that there is no distinction in
the outward appearance OF the graves.
Side by side in long, long rows they are
resting. Each is marked by its own
white cross with the name distinctly
inscribed and the Identification tag at
tached. These are frequently repainted
to preserve their purity. Side by SIDE
they lie. officer, private or unknown, just
rs they must have fallen in battle. The
whole Is covered with smoothly cut green
grass, with evergreen trees bordering the
paths and choice flowers blooming in
their season. Through all the winter
months the grass has been as green as
in summer and roses have bloomed. SO
mild have been the two winters in
France.
1t has been gratifying 10 hear many
who have made this visit to Belleau
Woods express satisfaction and perfect
willingness 70 have their loved ones re-
main in this beautiful national cemetery.
Frequently we hear the remark Il have
quite a different feeling since have
seen the marvellous beauty of these hill
tops OF the Marne and know the exqui-
cite care which our Government will per-
petually give to this place of the burial
of our dead"
One mother came from Philadelphia.
Her only boy had gone out from his
senior class In high school. He was
killed in the vicinity of Chateau Thierry.
She was a poor woman, but was fortu-
nate In being one OF a number of Moth
crs or the War to whom some journal
had given this wonderful trip with all
expenses paid.
We shall not forget the dismal rainy
day when all alone she came to find
the grave OF her boy. In company with
Mrs Wadsworth she at last came to the
place She read his name, saw his iden-
tihcation tag upon the cross There could
no longer be a doubt. Until then all
had seemed so unreal so far away. This,
then, was tho spot where her precious
boy was buried. Placing her flowers
tenderly upon It, ahe knelt there upon
the ground. Then rising. she looked out
upon the wondrous beauty and the quiet
OF the scene and said: This is the most
beautiful place in all the world. To me
1t Is like heaven. No." she went on, 4
would not for anything have him taken
away. 1t was hero that he gave MS
life. 1t must be here that he would
wish TO remain"
Another was a beautiful white haired
mother who had lived twenty-nine years
In New York. having been exned with
her husband from their home In Chile.