Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1923-08-17
Observations At The
Funeral of Presi-
dent Harding.

On last Wednesday, / was for
tunate to stand at the corner of
9th. ST., and Penna. Ave. with
countless other thousands 10
watch the funeral procession and
last sad journey of all that was
mortal of Warren G. Harding
from the White House to the
Capitol. 1t was the last EARTHLY
pilgrimage of our dead President
on historic Pennsylvania Ave.
Memory will in part recall and
history make vivid how on this |
historic street has been written |
tile feelings of both 10Y and glad
ness, as we'll as grief and sadness.
experienced by the people of this
great Republic.
The funeral procession of our
president was grand in its sim
plicity, but without pomp or dis
play, yet magnificent in splendor
in that it was so arranged as to
impress upon all the death of
| great man, and the tremendous
powers of the American people.
and the common respect and feel
ing for the loss of the dead lead.
err. The whole of Penua. Ave,
was a sea of humanity with sad
aud heavy hearts,, representing
all classes of men and women III
our country, all Of whom in their
! faces showed that they were fully
united in the expression of grief
for the loss suffered by the
Nation.
The first Individual in the pro-
cession to attract our attention
was General Pershing, in com
mand, who was followed by a
small part of every branch OF the
army and navy of the Republic,
thus being a very fitting escort
for the dead commander IN chief
Bands that often have played
martial music aud put courage in
many hearts, today PLAYED hyn
common to all, and showed that
even though we are great
people in war and in commerce,
, yet we are a christian nation and
, believe in the principals of the
greatest leader of men that ever
lived on the face Of this earth
AS the sound Of one band passed
, away in the distance and before
the music Of the next band could
be heard. the only sound audible
was the one united sound, thu
tramp, tramp, of marching men
sound never to be forgotten il
: that it was the sound of thi!
mighty nation marching toward:
the Capitol. To see those stall
wart men marching in al
branches of the arm and navy
through such an Immense crowt
/ on both sides Of Penna Ave-, ant
yet hear nothing but the sount
of the march is not to be for
gotten by any one who heard it.
5 Every face of that multitud,
was turned towards the White
: House looking for the caissof
carrying the body of our deat
President, aud as it came in view
with the coffin completely drapet
with an American flag aud hav.
ing on it a single wreath Of
flowers, all hats were off, and few
were the eyes not dimued with
tears, and in absolute silence the
sympathy Of the American people
was expressed in their faces to
the relatives of the dead leader,
aud their faces also evidenced
their LOYALTY to the government
! of the United States, aud their
faith in one another.
Blu. the most impressive part
of all that long procession were
the individuals WHO Immediately
followed the caisson. The family
of the dead, then the President
Of the United States. who is
placed in the exalted position by
the death of his leader; then
Chief Justice Taft of the Supreme
Court of Appeals and also Elk
President OF the United States,
aud then Woodrow Wilson, Ex-I
President of the United States.
There being thus four admins
trations of the United States to-
getler in one common cause aud
for one common purpose, and to-
gether were the four great lead.
ers of this Republic who had
faithfully served their country
for more than fourteen years in
the highest Office in the gift of
the people. This period of the
history of our country is the |
most interesting and far reaching |
in its effect upon the freedom of |
mankind in the world, through |