Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-04-03
ARRIVAL OF LAST OF AMERICAS
WAR DEAD FROM FRANCE

New York. April arrival Of the last
Of Americas 10000 war dead was COM
memorated In Brooklyn today.
One body, that Of Private Charles w.
Graves, OF Rome, Ca, symboiized, for
the time, the bodies Of the 1,Oe5 SOL
diers which were returned from France
last week on. the United States troop ship
| Cambria.
Amid the hushed vastness Of an army
pier. his l 6o4 silent comrades. in long
unbroken ranks of fiag-draped caskets.
maintained the bivouac Of the dead.
which sorrowing thousands. Of high and
low degree. paid the last respects of
grateful nation.
His body. enthroned on a gun caisson
and drawn by six horses, had been borne
through the ranks OF silent multitudes.
Stern generals had saluted the flag
which wrapped him. Hundreds OF his
comrades had marched beside him. Guns
had doomed in his honor, statesmen had
eulogized his deeds. mothers had wept
over him, and the bugle call taps
the so.diars' farewell, had oade him
God-speed
The body of Private Graves had been
chosen TO receive the honors OF the day
because he. OF the LOSS aboard the trosp
ship, was the last 10 be taken from the
hold and placed on his native soil.
Thus it was that he was the center
Of one OF the most profound demonstra-
tons ever to take place in Brooklyn.
while his comrades waited in the echoing
silence Of the big terminal
Private Graves body, in a gray steel
casket, was mounted upon a horse-drawn
gun caisson at the army base. Before
the caisson rode a detachment Of mount
ed police
A squad OF privates Of the Thirty
Fourth Infantry formed a Gordon Of hon
or. Behing them marched the honorary
pail bearers: Commodore Robert P.
Forsew. Brigadier Charles /. Debevoise,
Brlgadier General Franklin ". Ward,
Brigaditr General Palmer z. Pierce,
Brigsdier General James W. Lester,
Brigadier General De Witt Void, Briga-
der General William Weigel and Captain
James Vogelsang.
Hundreds of flag bearers followed. hild-
ing aloft the many colored emblems
Of $50 organizations that had seen
service at the front. with them. in
platoon formation marched regiment
after regiment of soldiers. sailors and
marines. each with it's regimental band
! or drum corps. And. swelling the pro-
cession, were other thousands OF the
American Legion. Veterans of Foreign
Wars, the Civil war. the Spanish-Aneri-
can war. the Uniformed Women Vet
Grams of the Red Cross and other welfare
services.
Formal services over the body were
held in the gray walled enclosure Of the
| army base. where chairs had been plac-
! ed for 5000 gold star mother, with gov
ernors, senator's, congressman and bish-
ops occupied the speakers stand. These
included Assistant Secretary OF War
J. Mayhem Wainwright, Vice Admiral
Hillary F. Jones. commander OF the At
lantic feet, and Major General John A.
Lejeune representing the marine corps.
Gocerior Harry L. Davis Of Ohio: Gov
ernor Everett J. Lake Of Connecticut /;
Governor Edward L. Edwards. of New
Jersey; Senators Calder Of New York !;
Fernald, of Maine; Harris. Of Georgia /:
! Spencer, Of Missouri, and Broussard. Of
Louisiana several United States repre-
sentatives, Archbishop Hayes. Bishop p.
S. Gailor and Rev. DR.. Joseph Silver
man.