Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-07-11

ot the nation inuurn.d the country's
war dead today at memorial services
on the army piers here. where LAY. the
bodies OF 7.2Gi men who made th.
supreme sacrifice on the fields OF
France.
Congress sent a joint committee
headed BY Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.
"ho spoke at the services. The
army was represented by Assistant
secretary OF War wainwright and
General Pershing. who declared the
freedom Of mankind was the battle
cry Of the fallen Warriors
The bodies OF these who feu lay in
row upon row OF naG-draped coins
within the massive piers from which
many OF them had embarked for
France
scores of gold star mothers and
hundreds or war veterans attended,
Every unit that saw active service
in France was represented among
the dead. Directly in front OF tho
speakers were the baskets OF the first
three United states soldiers TO die
- I'll
Herbert James II. Gresham. of Evans
vile Ind. Private Thomas r. E.nright.
of Pittsburgh, Pa. ana Private Merle
ID. Hay. OF G!idd"n. Iowa. all mem
bers OF the Sixteenth Infantry. Frs,
Division and all KILLED in November
1917. in the Luucvillc section OF
Lorraine.
They fought for eternal right and
justice. as did the founders of this
great republic" said General Per
shinE. The freedom OF mankind
was the battle cry.
Il saw them 20 forward wearicd
OF body. yet intrepid. rcsolu,c and
cheerful OF spirit Scornfu! Of dam
ger. they advanced with undauntcd
courage TO save wcil-nigh lost
cause. Only those who fought with
them can ever know the heights Of
religious devotion and patriotism 10
which they rose"
Senator Lodge said that TO a few
OF us. there is a peculiar poivnancy
IN this silent array OF dead. because
We we're among those upon whom
fell the grievous responsibility Of de-
lous lives were lost No one who has
not suffered that experience can real
lie the pain ana distress it brings"
BE assured" he continued. that
there are no men in this country
who so dread. so hate war as the
Senator'S and Representatives in Con-
grcss upon whom is imposed the duty
OF declaring war, if war must come
Senator Lodge said the American
people owe II to their dead soldiers
10 keep their countr oyn the upward
path.
We must never permit the great
republic for which they died" he
said, ito fail I'm wlthstanding the
trials OF the future. but always be
ready TO face undaunted. even as they
did. domestic malice or foreign levy
whenever peril comes"
Funeral hymns and the national
anthem were sung and prayers were
said ny a Protestant clergyman. a
Catholic priest. and a Jewish rabbi
General rcrshinc and Maurice Case
nave. French high commissioner
laid wrcaths on the collins OF Corp
and Hay.
When the solemn speeches and the
songs Of mourning had ceased. "A bu-
gler sounded taps" AS tho last note
sounded pcnt-up emotions of hun
dreds ot men and women we're re-
leased in sohhinG.
Then the relatives and friends OF
many Of those whose bodies had been
brought back from the military Gem
eterics OF France began to look for
the collins that bore the bodies OF
numbered. and attendants directed
Kin and friends to the Section of the
pier which was the temporary tomb
of their dead.
Always, when the sought-for coffin
was found, there would be a scene OF
pathetic tenderness. y Eray-haired
mother. dressed in the black Of sor-
row, would look along the floor for
the number which identified the cof-
fin of her loved one among the thou
sands.
the flag that yelled name and rank.
sometimes int IuolneT would pTtIh
down upon finding the casket Of her
boy: sometimes she would bear M
in silence. Often those who looked
for the collins were veterans OF the
war, and these could he heard TO say
as they found the pine box they
sought. "Hc was my buddy"
To-day" said General rcrshinc.
I'VE see these thousands OF Baskets,
each tcstifying to the sacrifice or
life itself by some young friend TO
give us peace and happiness. These
were no common souls. Under each
flag there lies one who was nur-
turcd at the altar of an American
home. And today his patriotic moth
or or wife mourns her gallant soldier.
In this hour no human heart could
remain unmovcd. We can feel the
spiritual presence Of those whom We
arc gathered TO honor. We are lifted
from the petty and Nordid things OF