The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-06-02
LOCAL WAR VETERANS
HONOR MEMORY OF DEAD
Escorted By Crellin Band, Boy
Scouts and Public School
Pupils
Continued from Page One)

Army and Navy, who also have seen
service in foreign lands, know of the
hell through which these men went
for their country and who tried to
comfort those who had lost loved ones
in the war.
"The procession moves slowly up
long, winding hill and as it reaches
the top soldiers, sailors and marines
swing to the right and left and stand
at attention. The caisson carrying a
body approaches. The body is now at
the entrance of the Amphitheatre
built in honor of the Nations dead.
The band moves forward followed by
choir singing a hymn and as the
body is placed on the catafalque the
choir chants Amen
president Harding now enters, the
approaches are now filled with men
and women in all walks of life and
from all kingdoms and republics
across the seas-here to honor the
unknown American dead.
"The band now playing the National
Anthem, soldiers and sailors stand at
attention, civilians uncover their
heads and gaze at the casket in the
center wrapped in the Stars and
Stripes. Then bugle blows atten-
ton. 1t is the silence call and means
| that each one present must stand in
silence for two minutes and instantly
everything was so quiet around tens
of thousands of people that one could
hear the slightest noise.
"There stood thousands of men and
women with his and her thoughts and
the body and spirit of the boy in the
casket. The strain is too great and
in moment could be heard a sigh,
a cough. A Red Cross nurse recalls
the sights she had seen on the big
front the night of the big drive. They
are too strong for her and she leans
on the arm of buddy at her side.
Tears begin to fall from mothers and
sWeethearts' eyes. They clinch their
hands, bite their lips and bow their
heads in prayer. Even men who
have seen wars and gone through
many hardships weaken as the tears
fill their eyes. The silence is broken
and the band playing "My Country
IT'S of Thee" and thousands join ir
the singing of that anthem.
"President Harding now pays trib
ute to the unknown boy and decorates
the casket with the Congressional
Medal of Honor and distinguished
Service Cross. The President step
back and one by one representative!
of all foreign allies steps to the cas-
ket, salutes, says few words in hi.
mother tongue and then place thei
medal of honor on the coffin.
"As the last representative of oul
foreign friends leave the casket
hymn is sung which is followed by
the reading of a Psalm. For a nom
ent there is silence and the body i.
being moved to the tomb. As the pro
cession moved slowly hymn wa
sung. AS the body reaches the toni
a war mother representing many
thousands of Gold Star Mothers
whose sons both known and unknown
died over there, steps forward ant
pays tribute to the boy.
"a moment later an American In
dian, dressed in his war time costume
steps forward to honor the unknown
dead. Just as the signal to lower the
body is given the Chief laid his wal
bonnet and coup stick on the bier Oh
the nations son. AS the Indian pays
his tribute the one-time buddies Of
the unknown dead fire three salvos Of
artillery. A moment later buglel
stood at the head of the grave anc
sounded taps-a soldiers farewell
IT'S true that taps may mean fare.
we'll but still it does not erase the
memories of former years.
Perhaps it is some mother stand
| ms iiSIC "liOSC IVY lcSGS III Lie IOUlL
of the unknown, and if her memory
and the boys could be known, perhaps
they would be similar to what one
great writer has written. War de.
clared, the call to arms. Boys leav.
ing offices, factories, school and farms
going to war for cause they thought
just, and to defend thir country. Ar
old, gray haired mother kissing hel
only son goodbye. A father with
tears in his eyes bidding the boy to be
brave and good The last long kiss
of sweet heart as he boarded the
train for the training camp. The
first night on the army cot, reville
mess call, his first uniform. Many
days of hard training in a camp. A
transport leaving a harbor with
thousands of young Americans; the
last sight of the Statute of Liberty
and the landing in France. The first
letter back home after landing with
the A. E. F.; The long ride in French
box car; the many days of hard train