The Washington herald., 1921-11-10
AMERICA HONORS
SPIRIT OF SOLDIER,
SYMBOLOF NATION
& ~ of Unknown Rests
nshrined Under Capt.
tol's Dome.
conllssed lron Psas on.

Contpnaed from Pcge Oae.
noon prepared 10 DO homage to
the spirit which the dead soldier
represented Uncovered. most OF
these people stood As the grim war
craft almost erept Through the fog
enshrouded waters 90 the navy
yard entrance and then TO her pier.
II was as though nature had put
on q garb Of mourning In sympathy
with the occasion.
Casket Rested on After Deck
Until the arrival Of the cruiser
at the navy yard the remains were
In the care of the navy. 1t was just
, o'clock when the ancient vessel
OF war was warped into her DOCK.
Only her lines were then made fast
Her gang planks were not pushed
out. No one was permitted on board
until 3:30 when passage was
erected TO the after deck over
which a few persons were allowed
to enter.
The casket containing the Amer
fban spirit was reposing on the
after-deck directly under a seven
inch rife, one which had seen ac-
tion in the battle of Manila Bay. 1t
.ica. At the head and the foot stood
two naval comrades. garbed in the
blue uniform of the navy. On the
Sag above the breast of the dead
soldier still rested the withered
white rose deposited there by the
arms sergeant, Younger. who had
selected this individual casket
from four that had been dislnterred
from American burial places In
France.
Rose Sacred symbol.
This withered rose was sacred.
It was not so much reminder OF
war nor a suggestive of peace.
Rather its withered brown petals
seemed TO proclaim victory and
purity of purpose as exemplified in
the army Of America. Above the
casket was a canopy OF waterproof
canvass the under side of which
was the starry banner OF the ma
tion.
On either side were wreaths of
various character which almost
covered the temporary stage erect
ed to carry the body across the
waters of the Atlantic. Predomi-
nant were fieur de lis indicative Of
the nation from which the body
had come. Beside the casket was
a small wooden gray box. 1t con-
tained earth from France. On this
earth finally will repose the casket
with its sacred contents. In death
Americas dead will not be seDarat-
ed from the soil where he gave his
life.
OmeIaIs Arrive I'm Rain.
From $40 until 3:45 there was
no appearance of life about the
wharf Naval officers and men
quietly slippd back and forth al
most like ghosts. Whatever talk
there was in the most subdued of
whispers. But at 3:45 there was a
stir far back in the Navy Yard.
Down through the fast falling rain
came a group nf men. As they
came on the pier there was recog-
nized the stalwart forms 'of Secre-
taries Weeks and DENLY. Gen.
Jolsu J. Pershing, Gen. Hunter Lig-
Ec-t Gen. Lejeune and Gen. Band
hoItL The latter had been official
y anmissioned to receive the cas-
ket from the navy.
All gathered in single file across
the dock which in the past has
been more or less sacred to Presi-
dents of the United States. Again
came a halt. Dead silence reigned.
Thers was no talking from the
group OF high officials. And the
spectators likewise were silent.
EazAt Bells Il signal.
suddenly into the air came the
sharp clans, OF the cruiser Olym-
ptzs bell One, two. three, four
Ave, six seven. eight-eight bells.
4 o'cloeE : sharp staccato COM
mand. Tn -svai z1ard of honor.
blue jackets. VIA had appeared
alongside of the g sket. seemed to
rise into bold relief. To their shoul-
ders they raised the flag covered
casket. And then they started
down the plank.
As the first pair reached the
avenue Of egress the band of the
Olympia struck up the m)urnful
strains Of Chopin's Funeral March.
At the same moment the Olympia
hsean to fire the national salute of
tR5snty-ono guns. Down the gang
plank came the body while every
man In sight snapped to salute.
Casket Placed on CaIsson.
Beyoad o. the dock was waiting
an artfIsrs es.isson with six
l1o4ssa sstacucd 1t had been sug-
geSIeu InaI Il InOlOT nedESe might
be used. But officials in charge
furnished the caisson, associated
from time fmmemorial with those
who have died in the uniform of
their country. The casket was
conveyed slowly and finally placed
On this vehicle. When this was
accomplished the ship band stopped
playing. The transfer from the
navy to the army had been COM
pleted. Not a single command was
uttered. Every individual con-
nected with the ceremony carried
out his part without orders. 1t
was indeed a labor of love.
with the casket reposing on the
caisson, the march to the Capitol
was Immediately started. At salute
every official of the government re-
manned standing until the body. sur
rounded by its cavalry escort, had
passed onward toward the navy yard
gate
Music by Mounted Band,
The mounted band of the Third
United States cavalry. heading the