Evening star., 1926-11-11
Spirit of Veneration Reigns
as Nation Observes Armi-
stice Anniversary.
GOVERNMENT HALTED
FOR PERIOD OF RESPECT
Many Visit Arlington and Tomb OF
Wilson-Legion Exercises
Impressive.

/ The Nations Capital paused from
| its busy work -a-day routine today, and
in common with a reyerent people,
made its eighth annual Armistice day
pilgrimage to the bivouac of the
| valorous dead of war.
To prove that their country does
| not forget, the respectful citizens Of
the Federal city stood with bowed
heads at the sepulchres of the depart
ed heroes-known and unknown--and
paid tender homage to their glorious
memory.
From across the Potomac on thS
white -fecked hills of Arlington, where
rests the tomb Of America S unknown
warrior. to the far heights of Mount
st. Alban, where lies the nations war
President, there fell mantle of
hushed veneration, disturbed only by
whispered prayers. soft words of
eulogy or the thunderous, but rev.
erential roar of artillery in salute
Throngs Visit Tomb.
The Unknown's tomb was the focal
point for most of the days observ-
ances. From early morning until
near sunset little groups of patriotic
men and women came and went, halt
ing before the cleaning shrine to lay
their wreaths of tribute.
For the first time since such rites
were instituted the Commander.in.
Chief of the country's military forces
| was not present at the tomb. Presi-
dent Coolidge was not neglectful of
the occasion. however, having gone to
Missouri to dedicate a war memorial
there, and mutely evidencing his re-
membrance of the local ceremonies
was the presidential wreath, which
lay among the others on the tomb. 1t
had been placed there by one of the
Presidents military aides, Capt. Leven
G. Allen.
The entire machinery of government
came to a halt for a period of two
minutes at II o'clock, while at near
by Army posts a day-long surcease
from the usual round of military ac-
tivities was in order. There was the
tramp of troops on parade, the dipping
of colors to half-staff and the booming
Of the national salute of 21 guns.
Chaplains Place Wreatlls.
High lights of the Arlington exer-
Uses were the laying of floral tokens
~ the quartet of Army and Navy
Reserve Chaplains, who officiated at
the first services for the Unknown
soldier, in 1921, and by such veterans
! units as the American Legion, the
American Women's Legion and the
Disabled American Veterans The
, chaplains were Rt Rev. Charles II.
Brent. Episcopal bishop of western
New York, and senior chaplain with
the A. E. F.: Rev. DR.. Morris S.
Lasarom. rabbi OF the Baltimore Con
gregation; Chaplain John B. Fraser of
the Navy. and Col. John r. Axton,
chief of Army Chaplains.
The ceremonies at Arlington began
at $50 am. with the laying Of a
wreath on the tomb by the Knights
of Columbus. Half an hour later a
group of Central High School repre-
sentatives discharged a similar duty.
The wreaths of the Disabled Veterans,
the Woman's Legion and the Presi.
dent were placed alongside the others
before noon.
At noon the District Department of
the American Legion began it's observ-
ance with an impressive indoor pro-
gram of speeches and music, in
keith's Theater.
Brig. Gen. James A. Drain, past
national commander American Lee
gion. and Senator David A. Reed of
Pennsylvania were the principal
speakers. They We're introduced by
Maj. Gen. Amos A. Fries. department
commander of the Legion, in charge
of the exercises. A group of War
Mothers was seated on the stage
Lauds HerOism of Disabled.
Ending of the World War. Gen.
Drain declared, but signaliZed the be-
ginning of a peace time war having as
it's object to make available to the
world the benefits which come from
the World War. Gen. Drain called
attention to the heroism of thousands
Of disabled veterans who are carrying
on in hospitals today, and declared
that the American Legion represents
"a monument of memory, of rever-
ence and of service
One Of the purposes of the Legion,
he said, is to see that the lives of the
noble dead are not wasted. Members
of the Legion helped to bring peace
out Of war and hoped to keep war out
of peace. he added.
Senator Reed, who was a ma jor in
the A. +. F.. said that the scars of
conflict are passing away and that the
cemeteries overseas are tended with
loving care and represent as distin-
guished a place as an American can
rest in. He told Of the comradeship of
arms and said that war. while terrible.
was not an unmitigated evil, since it
brought the people together.
'Supine cowardice and sentimental
lists who would let our national
muscles grow f1abby," he declared, do
more harm to this country than hos
tile soldiers" " Senator Reed eN-
pressed thankfulness that the wave OF
lntolel ance which arose Immediately
after the war is receding, and closed