The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-11
Harding Leads Nation in Armi-
stice Day Observance.
A Wreath for Unknown Hero in
Arlington Cemetery.
NOT CONFINED TO AMERICA
The Dead in France and Bel
gium Are Not Forgotten.
Congressional Medal Awarded
BeIgium's Unknown Hero.
tBy the Associated Pressl

tBy the Associated Press-l
washingtons Nov. 11.-America's
tribute TO It's unknown soldier was
paid thru President Harding today
with a simplicity strikingly at vari-
ance with the splendid ritual of hon
ors that marked his Homecoming
year ago.
Today there was no spoken word to
stir echoes of the solemn chords and
expressions of high resolve a year ago
that still must linger amid the marble
arches of Arlington memorial ampni-
theater, where the.honored dead Keeps
vigil.
non. the ring of shod soldiers on the
hard roadway, low command, a
stil1ed flourish of trumpets, as rifles
leaped up to present, and the presl-
dent had come to place a wreath upon
the sleeper's tomb, and gone again
almost before the few hundred VINO
awaited realized that the ceremony
had begun.
on the terrace facing down over the
haze shrouded rivec and the city be-
yond a III line of cOmrade soldiers,
sailors and marines was drawn UP fac
ing inward toward the great white
block of stone that marks the resting
place of the unknown Grouped over
the wide steps beyond that lead up TO
the entrance to the amphitheater the
few hundred who had come to share
in the honors to the dead had found
their place.
Boy Scouts Take Part.
Two score Boy Scouts also had
trudged over from the capital and
were drawn up beside the way the
president would pass. The far rumble
OF a gun brought the soldiers to at
tentiOn. The president was passing
thru Fort Meyer over the road, on his
way TO the cemetery. One by one the
thuddinE echoes counted out the roll
of twenty-one guns of the national
salute
Then again there was stiffness until
the clatter of hoofs told that the cav
airy escort and the little string of Of
fetal cars was drawing near The
troopers turned aside to sit with saber
at present as the presidents car rolled
on toward the terrace. The bugles of
the Roy Scouts called softly the
floCrishes army regulations prescribe
for The commandment chief. Then
the car turned the corner out on the
side terrace and stopped near the
tcElb.
Harbord in Party.
President Harding and Secretary
Weeks and DENLY stepped out to stand
with heads barred as the soldiers and
sa lors and marines presented arms. !
Behind them were the presidents mill
tary and naval and marine corps
aides. respondent in the gold braid of
Farbord. as General Pershing's
deputy also had come to honor dead
comrade again
The president stepped forward bare
headed and took from his military
aide the great wreath of red and white
and blue blossoms brought from the
White House. Tho two secretaries
stood, hat IN hand, as he walked to the
great stone and set the wreath gently
against il. As he drew back to pause
a moment looking down at the tomb, /
he slowly raised his hand in military
salute. Then he turned away.
Not a Word Spoken.
No word had been spoken save the
that brought the cars rolling back
We're given by gesture and there was
not a sound from the hundreds gath
cred to witness the brief ceremony.
Mr.. Harding and his cabinet members
stood in low toned talk they waited
for the cars.
Then with a final salute from the
troops they rolled away and the dying
tators to drift slowly homeward, and
the unknown to the keeping of the
peaceful hills about him.
Ceremonies at Brussels
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
IAll IN Lle great war was enLOT1lDed
amid scenes such as those that wit
messed the honor Great Britain and
France and Italy and America did
their hero dead.
AS formally expressing the COM
radeship OF the American government
in tribute to the Belgium unknown.
President Harding has approved the
following citation which will be be-
slowed with the congressional medal |
of honor. the highest American recog- /
milton OF valor. by Maj. Gen. Henry T. !
Allen. comma nding American forces
in Germany, and specially ordered TO
Brussels for the purpose:
by virtue of the authority vested |
by law in the president of the United |
States. the congressional tmedal of
honor, emblem OF the highest military
ideals and virtues. is bestowed in the |
name of the congress of the United
States upon the unknown. unidentified
Belgian soldier in a desire TO add all
that is possible to the imperishable
glory won by the soldiers of Belgium. /
who fought as comrades of the Amer
lean soldiers during the World war.
and to commemorate with them the
deeds of the nations association with
the United States of America by |
placing this tribute to their unknown
dead"
Services i'm Foreign Cemeteries.
At the eight American cemeteries in
France. Belgium and England there |
remain the bodies of 30.36S soldiers |
sailors and marines who gave their
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