Evening star., 1922-03-28
PRESIDENT HONORS
T. CIVIL WAR LEADER
Turns SpadefuI of Earth at
Ceremony to Open Work on
Meade Memorial.

AoTninE OF the first gpadeful OF
earth by President Harding this aft.
ernoon marks the beginning of q
handsome monument to Gen. George
Gordon Meade. who commanded the
victorious federal army at the Battle
OF Gettysburg. the memorial to be
erected In the northwest section OF
the grounds Of the United States Ro.
tanic Gardens
impressive ceremonies attend the
turning Of the earth for the construc.
ton work, and the participation OF
the President Of the United States in
this tribute to the Gettysburg hero
ID being witnessed by a large gather.
ing OF distinguished officials and cit.
liens Of this city and Pennsylvania
which was the birthplace of Gen
Meade, and which furnished the near.
ly quarter Of million dollars TO.
the memorial.
Use Historic Spade.
Near the President stood Mrs
Harding, Secretary of War Weeks
and Gov. William c. Sproul of Penn.
sylyania, the last two turning. q
spadefui Of earth following the Presi-
dent The spade used on this occa-
sion was historic, in that it is the
same one used at the beginning OF
the Lincoln and Grant memorials.
Senator Frank B. Brandegee OF
Connecticut one Of the members OF
the National Meade Memorial Com.
mission; George b. Meade, a grand.
son OF the general, and George B
Meade, a great-grandson, each in
turn dug q spadeful of earth. The
last named, on behalf Of the Meade
family. raised an American flag or
the actual site Of the memorial.
the National Meade Memorial Asso.
citation. called the exercises to order
following which Rev. r. E. Mcbride
department chaplain of the G. A. r
of this city, gave the invocation. Sec.
retary Weeks then made a brief ad
dress. outlining the purposes of the
gathering. In which he euiogized the
memory of the distinguished Ameri.
can general. as follows:
Congress, in its wisdom, has given
authority to the state of Pennsylvania
to erect a. statue of Gen. George Cor.
selected for its location. We are as.
sembled this afternoon for the pur.
pose of carrying out the provisions OF
Congress.
Place In History Of War.
This is not the time to discuss In
detail the distinguished services OF
Gen. Meade or to dwell on the mos,
conspicuous accomplishment of hi.
career when in command of the
northern army at Gettysburg. HI.
victory at Gettysburg proved to be
the turning point in the civil war
When our minds revert to that period
and to the distinguished men who
successfully commanded the northern
armies. the ones whose names occur
named, are Grant. Sherman, Sherf.
dan, Thomas and Meade. Suitable ME.
MORALS have already been erected in
Washington TO the first four and te
that most distinguished volunteer
Gen. John A. Logan. OF the heroes OF
the civil war, l think 1t is generals
agreed that Meade stands at the head
Of those remaining who were conspic.
uously instrumental in bringing the
1T. is not out Of place for me to rs.
Gen. Meade as an illustration of tho
value Of having in the Regular Arms
trained officers, even II they are mo,
engaged in strictly military actfvi
ties during much Of their service. II
furnishes storehouse Of materia
which always has and always wil
provide for the necessities of the eoV
6rnment In time Of need and without
would necessarily result in untold un.
--TCSony;n,,.d -, D.- . TI-1-