Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-11-11
President Harding Conducts
Simple And Impressive
Service At Arlington.
WREATH ON TOMB
Nations Respect Is Shown In Action
OF President, Secretary of War,
And Secretary of Navy, Who Form
Official Delegation.
,By United Press.)

Washington, Nov. 11-A tribute of
silent homage, impressive and signifi-
cant, was paid here today to the I'm
known Soldier on the first anniver-
sary of his return from foreign fields
of battle to his homeland.
The President of the United States
stood before his tomb in Arlington
cemetery where last year all the
world paid him homage, and in be-
half of the American people, placed
a memorial wreath upon the unadorn-
cd cenotaph.
The Secretary of War was there
and the Secretary of the Navy, rep
resenting the land and naval forces.
They stood silently beside the Presl-
dent, g small semi-circle. No one else
participated in the brief ceremony.
No word was spoken Their silent
tribute paid, the three high officials
of the government departed.
The simple scene today contrasted
Significantly with the elaborate mem
orial exercises a year ago, when mill
tary leaders of worldwide fame, com
rades in arms of the dead hero, moth
ers who had lost sons in the war, and
thousands of his countrymen joined
on the same spot in q momentous
demonstration in honor of the un-
known soldier boy.
There was no great parade today,
no long, funeral cortege, no solemn
dirge, no throbbing roll Of war drums.
The vast amphitheatre, where thous
sards sat in awed silence one year
AGO today, was empty. There was no
sound there except the occasional
whistle of a cool autumn wind as 1t
swept down from the brown Virgin
ia hills and played about the chill,
white pillars.
The booming of 21 guns from the
battery at Fort Myer, reverberating
across the beautiful wooded slopes OF
Arlington, announced the approach of
The President. Shortly afterward the
small party entered the gates and,
preceded by the calvary escort, NOV
ed slowly up the twisting road TO
"America's Shrine" on the hill, which
overlooks the peaceful Potomac and
Washington.
The President placed the memorial
wreath upon the tomb. A brief ST.
lence followed The ceremony was
over.
While President Harding made no
formal address at the tomb of the Un-
known Soldier, he issued an Armlstlce
Day message in which he reminded
the American people that the anniver-
sarv this year should be made IAN oc-
casion for appraisal of our relation
ship to and participation in those wild
er concerns which involve the welfare
of all mankind"
81 think we have come to realize,
as a nation, "the President said, that
we cannot hope to avoid obligations
and responsibilities, often arduous
and burdensome, as part of the price
we must pay for our fortunate rela-
tionship to, the confraternity of the
Nation.
at will be greatly to the national
benefit. | am sure, if those who most
intimately participate in the events of
the great world, and among them l,
of course. include particularly the
men of the overseas forces, shall al
ways keep infmind the fact that their
noble service to their country and
-,vilization, has imposed upon US a
duty to recognize that henceforth we
must maintain helpful and sustain
ing attitude in all the broader re-
lationships that involve the nations