Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-10-07
SHAFT IS Unveiled
To DEAD HEROES
Of FIRST DIVISION

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.-With liv-
ing comrades gathered from the four
corners of America to do them hon
or, dead of the first division Satur-
day came into their visible heritage
of glory.
Ranked in orderly, soldierly col
umns on the bronze tablets beneath
the mighty shaft these comrades
have raised to them their names are
set forth that men from all time NAV
know of their supreme sacrifice for
the flag. 1t was the Juggling hand Of
a hero comra6e, weighed down with
his own battle wounds, that tore
aside the last curtain which obscured
the serene beauty of the tribute to
the valor, written in stone and
bronze.
1T is tribute of reverence and
sorrow to more than 5000 of our
immortal dead from those who knew
and loved them," President Coolidge
said in defeating the memorial.
THE figure of winged victory rises
above the scrolls of imperishable
bronze on which are inscribed alone
the ennobled names of those who
fell and through their deathless valor
left us free
Other soldiers, generals and pri
Yates, officers and men, rank on
rank of illustrious fame, are re-
corded here. They live. The dead
reign here, alone.
A Symbol of Tragedy
This monument commentaries
no man who won anything by the
war. 1t ministers to no aspirations
Tor place or power. But ii challenges
attention to the cost, the suffering
ana sacrifice that may be demanded
OIL any generation so long as ma.
ions permit resort to war to settle
their disputes. 1t is symbol of aw-
ful tragedy, of unending sorrow and
OF stern warning. The final lesson
which it imparts is the blessing of
peace, the supreme blessing of peace
with honor.
If any one doubts the depth and
sincerity of the attachment of the
American people to their institu-
TONS and government-let them
Saze upon this monument and other
Ike memorials that have been reared
In every quarter of our broad land
Let them look upon the representa-
tive gatherings of our veterans, and
let them remember that America
has dedicated itself to the service
of God and man.
Up the same wide avenue where
Its victory pageant unrolled itself
Just few short years ago, the first
division came again to march it's
veteran legions today, that full hon
or should be done to fallen comrades,
wherever they sleep. They moved
through a thinning haze of morn
ing fog that draped trees and build
ings in soft-toned clouds as the
troops and the marching veterans
tramped by. And again they found
crowding thousands all along the
way to greet the rumbling guns and
the thick-ranked host of marching
men.
Youngsters of the army today led
tie way; men who now fill up the
historic regiments of the first diVi-
sion, and who wear on khaki Shout
ders the braided cords that testify
to the valor of the legions who have
passed before them through these
sac ranks and whose glorious ira
ditionS these younger sons of the
flag now carry on. Behind the
massed bands of the division and
stepping to the same rollicking tunes
that drew onward the tired feet of
the men who fought under the same
flags in France, first came the com
posite regiment from the Sixteenth
and Eighteenth infantry of today.
They were trim in khaki and brass
and stepping proudly in their youth,
viii
stern-faced veteran regulars who
still serve with the old regiments.
Many Back in "Civies"
Behind these came the Spotless
guns and gun teams of the sixth
artillery. rolling forward to pay their
last laundering salute to the fallen,
then the veterans no longer in the
armies. officers and men walking
shoulder to shoulder now under the
standards that proclaimed them to
b. all OF the wartime sixteenth or
eighteenth, the twenty-siXth or
twenty eighth. the sixth or seventh
or fifth artillery or first engineers
or som, other unit of the fighting
first division Of 1919. Some wore
again the old uniform. but most were
in civilian clothes of varying hue
AID cut.
But those lads are soldiers still,
said one old army sergeant as he
watched the veterans tramp by. See
the straight backs and see EN- keep
their step. They've not forgot, those
| boys"
Up past the tall monument the
procession rolled To deploy out over
the grass and under the trees and
form living wall Of khaki about
the scene. On the platform at the