The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-03-29
BREAK GROUND
FOR MEMORIAL
President Harding and
Other Notables Turn
40 First Earth.
CROWD ATT E N D S
Botanical Gardens Site of
Monument to Hero of
Gettysburg.

Surrounded by gray-haired vet
erauS Of the battle that marked
the turning point in the civil war,
and a distinguished crowd OF gov
eminent officials. President Hard
ing yesterday broke the first ground
on the site in the Botanical Gar
dens where is to be erected a monu-
ment to Gen. George Gordon Meade.
commsnder-in-chie of the Union
Army in the battle of Gettysburg.
\ drizzlinG rain which had been
falling on the assemblage subsidized
as President Harding turned the
frstt bit OF earth. The spade he
used was the historic Implement
that had been used to begin the
Grant and Lincoln memorials.
other officials Turn Earth
Five other notables followed the
President in breaking ground for
the memorial. They were Gov.
william C. SprouI. II Pennsylvania.
the native State Of Gen. Meade;
George Gordon Meade. grandson OF
the famous soldier: Secretary John
W. Weeks. Lieut.. Gen. Nelson \.
Miles and Chief Justice William H.
Taft
Mrs. Harding. Gen. Pershing and
a number Of senators and Repre-
sentatives witnessed the ground
breaking and heard the tributes
that were paid to the famous gen
eraI.
lie was described as savior Of
the nation" by the venerable Gen.
Miles.
Gen. Miles Pays Tribute.
The Army of the Potomac was
more depressed than it had been at
any time in the war when Gen.
Meade was assigned to its COM
mand." declared Gen. Miles.
This -.as at time" he sid.
when 1t was required to immedi-
ately engage the enemy and at the
same time defend the cities of
Washington. Baltimore and Phil
adelphta. He was expected to en-
gage in battle an army very nearly
equal in strength. elated with sue
cess and confident of victory
By forced marches he concen-
and there during three days OF
desperate battle. achieved a most
glorious victory. 1t was the deci-
sive battle Of the war Had that
army been defeated. there was
n" other force to defend the Ma
tional Capital or the North Atlantic
States"
Pennsylvania on Hand.
The state Of Pennsylvania. which
furnished the nearly quarter Of a
million dollars to be spent on the
memorial. was represented. besides
Gov. Sproul. by several PennsyI.
yania members of Congress anc
number Of G. \. r veteran.
battle of Gettysburg. The latter
had with them several flags that
had gone through the war
Gov. SprOul declared the famou.
soldier was by ancestry. train.
ing. education and citizenship. 8
Pennsylvania
The entire task of erecting the
memorial will he in the hands Of
Pennsylvanians. he declared
Secretary Weeks Draws Lesson.
Secretary of War Weeks de.
clared Gen. Meade might well be
used as an illustration of the
Ndlut Ol HdNlnE III the regular
army trained officers. even if they
are not engaged in strictly mill.
tary activities during Tluch Of
their service.
He CMeade) had reached middle
life in the service of the govern.
ment in a relatively minor mill.
tary grade and in a service which
did not give him conspicuous posi-.
ton" said Secretary Weeks Yet
his reputation was So thoroughly
established through his character
and his ability to perform the
duties assigned to him that at the
beginning of the civil war he
was almost Immediately made {
brt-adier general Of volunteers
although his life work had beer