The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-05-17
Thousands Annually
Visit Resting Place
Of Unknown Soldier

In front OF the great marble amphl.
thester at Arlington little. gray
haired woman In black IL standing a.
isntly. There are tears In her eyes.
She Is carrying wreath OF evergreen
bought an hour before at flower store
across the river In Washington. She
IL az the grave Of the Unknown Sol
disr.
heavy automobile crunches along
the crushed-stone road. II Is a hired
car. nlled with 4 party OF slghtseers
devotlng day to the nations capital
aud trying TO get all the way around
before time for the evenlng train.
A Waterman Is leaning against one
OF the pillars OF the amphItheater. He
10 yawninx and waiting for four
o'clock 10 come. when another watch
man win 40 to work. The stiffness Of
the cemetery makes him sleepy. A boy
inside the door IL trying to sell some
picture post cards to = honeymoon
couple. Along comes a negro with a
one horse cart full OF rubbish Cor the
dump.
The little woman In black places the
wreath tenderly on the Unknown Sol.
dIer's tomb. she kneeIs and prays.
Across on another grassy HIN dotted
with white tombstones, IL a squadron |
OF held artillery, guns ready for se-
ton. II II the funeral OF major gen
srsi and he Is being accorded full MILL
tsry honorx. Back on the crooked
roadway 10 long line OF limouslnes
that have carried the funeral party. A
nagdraped CONN II being lowered into
the grave.
Bang"
The salute. The muffied report
,chocs and r~echoes through ths
peaceful hilla The visitors In the
remessry are startled for an instant.
To some Of the men here snd there tho
srins recalls the days they passed on
he Western front.
Beautiful and Peaceful
The little woman. nnishins her
'rsyer. stands beside the massive rail.
Nc. taking In the scene. She watches ,
he soldiers performing the last rites ,
Z the generals grave. Beyond. across
be rcd brick cemetery fence. she gets
view Of the city OF Washington.
The towering shaft OF the Washing.
IN monument appears to be Just over 1
as narrow ribbon OF water that IL the
ctomac. To tho right IL the capitol
ONE and close to II but lower the
listening bronze top Of ths Congress
cnal library.
There arc rows OF squatty buildings
M many windows. the bureau Of en-. v
-sslns and printing. the new quarters
the War department and the Navy
apartment. The outlines Of the White r
euss are faint In the mist. The lin
In memorial stands cut distinctly I
nonx green foliage. Everything. away
om city noises, Is quiet and peaceful.
The woman IL one % the mothers Of
skncwa soldiers. Of whom there were ,
200 she has eouns 70 Arlington eeme.
~ Feeling she IL visiting The grave 81 "
o boy she gave to tho war. Nobody
N SAY that the soldier buried there Il
4 her son. II u good 10 be close 20
m
Many nsshsrs ~ Grave.
This happens many titnes Nobody
lows how many mothers % unknown Of
idiers have visited Arlington. The "
'uhsr has been large. They are "
on<n-hearfsd women aud to riany 81 a
ssn the Journey 10 Washington has 50
on accomplished onls after many on
svstions.
These unknown mothers almost u
cry cpe % them. are certain the hety n
the unmarked tonis - Of their blood. hi
'ne Of them have qnaln, WAYS 81 coo- NJ
ncinx themselves u the fact. stories On