The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-11-11
President and Ex-Presidents'
General and Diplomats
Take Important Parts
HARDING DELIVERS
PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
Highest Decorations of Allied
Governments Placed on
Unknown Hero Y

w p. Il
D,ose Staff CorreSpOndent)


Washington, Nov. 11.-"That this
may not be again.
In this spirit America and IN d
sense the world kneel today TO pay
homage TO some unknown, unclalnleu
human body salvaged from the SOL.
of outraged France, mute victim Oh
the SACRIFICES which saved clvll1zatlon'
AS if to rededicate the cause Tor
which the Stars and Stripes were
streaked with blood and millions OF
brave men laid down their lives, THIS
republic and its comrades IN arms
swung forth today and proudly LAVISH
ed honors, never dreamed OF by any
,,otentate. on this unknown dead SOL
der.
While the entire nation bowed its
head in silent tribute for two minutes
today, in response to a presidential
proclamation, President Harding, eX-
presidents Woodrow Wilson and Will
lam Howard Taft, scores OF high OF
ficials and representatives OF the great
powers of the earth, honored Amerl-
cas- unknown dead in services at the
Arlington National Cemetery.
On the casket in the presence OF
the distinguished world assemblage,
were placed the highest military dec
orations of the allied countries and
the Congressional Medal of the Unit
ed States.
=. President Harding delivered. the
principal address, and his words liter
ally were heard in New York, Chicago,
, and San Francisco, by means of cloud
speaking telephones.
On this day, three years ago, there
was brought to an end maelstrom
Of conflict which englfed and raw
isiled the earth. During four horrible
years war with murderous fire and
devilish poisons destroyed the pride
Of races, wiped out billions in treas
ure, and with polluting breath laid
low fair fields and thriving cities.
This body today the most honored
in history, was a human part Of all
this.
This body is the human story of
mothers tears, of the sacrifices of
nation. This is every mothers son.
who came back alive or dead. But
especially is it the boy of the mothers
who left 2,O99 unknown American
soldiers dead on the World War bat
tlefields.
Today Americas Unknown Soldier
Hero lay in state in the rotunda of
the national capitol. The body rested
on the same catafalque on which were
placed the bodies of the martyred
Presidents Lincoln, Garfield and Nc
Kinley.
Here the body had rested for more
than twenty-four hours under guard
of honor. Through the day and night,
there have stood four silent sentinels
one near each corner of the bier.
This bodyguard has been especially
picked from the engineers, cavalry,
artillery and infantry Of the army,
and from the navy, marine corps, and
national guard, so that the four SEN
tinels on duty at any one time have
represented different arms and
branches of the country's armed
forces.
Early today at o'clock, the hon.
orary pail bearers, generals of the
army and admirals of the navy
the least of men today-and the body
bearers. army and navy enlisted vet
Grams of the World War and other
campaigns, cited for gallantry cover
there" some of them wearing Amer
ica's highest bravery decoration, the
Medal of Honor, assembled at the
Capitol.
On the broad expanse outside at
the east front of the Capitol, the
military escort for trc unknown
Hero in the grand procession down
historic Pennsylvania, was formed.
IT was headed by Brigadier General
Harry H. Bandholtz commanding
general of the District of Washing
ton, and his staff, with them a band,
a COMPOSITE regiment Of regular army
Infantry. sailors and marines, nation
al guard troops, field artillery, and a
rq7@dron Of cavalry.
Out Of the Capitol, the Hero's
bo6v was carried and placed on an
artillery caiTson. The military for
nation saluted the emblem and the
palhearers formed in column of files
on either side of the caisson.
John Joseph PersFing. general of
the armies Of the United States and
this Unknown Hero's commander in
France, mounted on his favorite
charger, "Jeff," took his place at the
heed of the procession as grand mar.
shall With General Pershing was &
staff of distinguished American gen
erals and admirals.
"A funeral march BEGAN to play, al
ternating with muffled drums. and thu