The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-11-11
NATION AGAIN
GIVES PLEDGE
TO HERO DEAD
Armistice Ceremonies
Add New Glory
fRv Associated Pressl

reverently there to commemorate the
first anniversary of the Homecoming
of Americas unknown soldier from
France. Again the nation sealed the
covenant OF American faith 1t then
pledged beside the grave now covered
by the massive boulder.
And the utter simplicity of the
scenes today contrasted against mem
ories of pomp and splendor Of year
ago in the same beauty of setting
served to add new glory to that which
is idealized in the blood Of this hum
BILE soldier shed in France, the high
purpose that is Americanism.
Again President Harding made the
pilgrimage from Washington in behalf
of all his countrymen. But this time
the message he bore was no spoken
word. but a simple wreath to rest on
the great stone. The guns that roar
ed the national salute in honor to the
dead alone broke stiffness to voice
nations pride.
Cavalry Escort
For the army Secretary Weeks ac-
companied the president and for the
navy Secretary DENLY. That COM
pleted the group which carried to the
tomb the token of remembrance that
was placed for all the nation. The
only touch of ceremony was that lent
by a Gathering troop of cavalry, which
escorted the presidential party.
There were many others who took
occasion to pay homage to the I'M
known, among them General Pershing
for himself and the other comrades of
the dead in France. The general could
not go in person for he had been called
to New York but his aide bore the
wreath to the great stone around
which the flowers clustered as the day
moved on.
None but the routine restrictions Of
the quiet cemetery were in force to-
day AS on every day in the year, the
public was free to come and go among
the great dead resting there and about
the Memorial amphitheatre on the
terrace in front of which stands the
tomb of the unknown. Any who cared
to make the journey of remembrance
could share with the president, or
with the war mothers or with any
other honors paid to the dead.
Heroes Remembered.
But Americas share in Armistice
Day events was not confined to those
at home. The dead in France were
not forgotten, nor was there lack of
American fellowship at the great cere-
monial in Brussels where the Belgian
unknown, perhaps among the first to
fall inSthe great war, was entombed
amid scenes such as those that wit,
messed the honor Great Britain and
France and Italy and America did their
hero dead.
For the American army, regular, re
servist or National guardsman, Secre
tary Weeks sent this message to the
Belgian minister of war:
The occasion of the ceremonies in
honor of the unknown Belgian soldier
freshens the memories of heroic deeds
of the Belgian army and of the sac
rifices of the Belgian people and
strengthens the pride of association
shared alike by the army and people
of the United States.
ION behalf of the members of the
army of the United States / offer hom
age to their former comrade, the I'M
known Belgian soldier"
Pershing Sends Message
General Pershing sent this persona.
message to the Belgian chief of staff:
II desire to offer personal homage
to my former comrades, the Belgian
soldier, unknown in name, but a shar
er in heroic deeds with which hi:
country's name will ever be associ
ated
AS formally expressing the comrade
ship of the American government II
tribute to the Belgian unknown, Presi
dent Harding has approved the follow
ing citation which will be bestowed
n with the congressional medal OF honor
I the highest American recognition o
valor. by Major General Henry T. al
len. commanding American forces il
Germany and specially ordered L
Brussels for the purpose:
"By virtue of the authority vested
by Law in the president of the United
States. the congressional medal of hon
or. emblem of the highest militar,
ideals and virtues, is bestowed in tn,
name of the congress of the Unite'
States upon the unknown. unidentified
Belgian soldier in a desire to add al
tS,t is possible to the imperishabl
story wen by the soldiers of Belgium
VINO fought as comrades of the Amer
to commemorate with them the deed
of the nations associated with tn
United States of America by payln
this tribute TO their unknown dead"
Services Abroad.
At the eight American cemeteries Il
France. Belgium and England there re
main the bodies of 30,36S soldiers, sal
ors and marines who gave their live
iuring the war. At each of these fror
he Meuse-Argonne, Aisne Marine
Sureenes, st. Mihiel, The Somme, Oise
Aisue in France, in Flanders field i
Belgium, and at Brookwood in Ems
and, appropriate services were hel
throughout the day with American d
plomstic or military and naval officer
paying tribute.
At lone in the national cemeterie
n New York and San Francisco an
At Jefferson Barracks, Mo-, wher
. many war dead from France are burie
X here also were public expressions dur
tng the day but to the 39,572 brough
home for bNrial in private cemeterie.
he nations gratitude was expresse
Oy President Harding at Arlington.