Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04
MEMORIALS In FRANCE
BEING COMPLETED BY u. S.
Gold Star Mothers and Widows, Begin
ming Pilgrimage Soon, to See
Beauty Spots.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

BY WILL p. KENNEDY.
Now that plans are being made by
many thousands of gold star mothers
and widows to visit the graves of their
hero dead In France, Belgium, Eng
land and other continental countries
at the expense of the United States
Government, on pilgrimages starting
next year, there is deep interest as to
what progress has been made on the
memorials being erected by the United
States and the probable dates Of COM
pletion Of the various chapels.
Because this information Is 50 vital
In the making Of plans by the gold star
mothers, widows and other relatives OF
the New England soldiers who now
sleep in the American military cene-
has been prepared on information from
most authoritative sources:
Congress recently passed law which
will enable the mothers and unmarried
widows of our hero dead who have not
previously visited the graves Of their
husbands and sons in Europe to do SO
at the expense Of the United States
Government. Under the law the visits
will be made at such times between
May l., 1880, and october 3l,1933. as
may be designated by the Secretary of
WAL. LIE wal 41CpdA ID oCCAAlB
information regarding relatives who
desire TO Join these pilgrimages. The
relatives naturally desire to time their
visits so as to bring them to their dear
ones graves when the memorials au-
thorized by the Government have been
completed.
Imposing memorials are being erected
by the American Battle Monuments
Commission, Of which Gen. John j.
Pershing is chairman, and were de-
signed by some Of the most prominent
architects in the United States. whose
designs were approved by the National
Commission of Fine Arts. These chapels
will be monumental in nature, beauti-
full, restful and impressive. They will be
sanctuaries where these relatives may
20 for shelter, meditation and prayer.
They will be national memorials be-
fitting the purpose for which grateful
Nation erects them, a source OF conso-
lation to the bereaved parents ana
widows. On the walls Of the chapels
will be inscriptions to the men VINO
Individual inscriptions giving the name.
rank, organization, date Of death and
State of the men who still sleep in
unknown graves.
Dates for Completion.
The Battle Monuments Commission
in Paris reports officially that 1t is eX-
pected that the chapel in the Meuse-
Argonne American Cemetery near Ro-
magne- Sous Montfaucon, France, VIII
be completed by May 80, 1882; that In
the ST. Mihiel American Cemetery near
Thiaucourt, France, by May 50, 1882
that in the Oise-Aisne American Gem
etery near observation-disclosures, France,
by May 80, 1881; that in the Aisne-
Marine American Cemetery near Bel
leau, France by the Spring or Summer
of 1891: that in the Somme American
Cemetery near Bony, France. by May
30, 1881, that in the Flanders Field
American Cemetery near Waereghen,
Belgium, by May 80, 1880; that In the
Suresnes American Cemetery, near
Paris, France, by May 80, 1881. ana
that in the Brookwood American Gene
terry near Brookwood. England. by May
30. 1880. Each of these chapels is now
in process of construction.
An amendment to the gold star
mothers law extending the time of their
visit to October. 1884, in order to give
these mothers and widows an oppor-
tunity to see all cemeteries, chapels
and monuments, when fully completed,
has been introduced in Congress. 1t Is
thought that by such q visit the pc
reaved ones will carry back to their
homes in America and cherish through
out life a memory Of the unsurpassed
beauty and simple grandeur OF THESE
temples of the dead.
Another bill is pending to take care
of the mothers not included. 50 as 10
make it possible for all mothers OF
service men to share in the beneflt OF
the law-to include all mothers OF
soldiers who died at sea, or who were
buried overseas.
Soon after the war our Government
established eight national cemeteries IN
Europe; one in England, not Tar from
London; one in Belgium and Six IN
France. Nowhere else in the world
can cemeteries be found more beauti-
I full, more restful, more thoughtfully
cared for Flowers. trees and shrubbery
laid out by the skillful and sympathetic
hands of trained landscape gardeners,
and nurtured with tender care, lend a
quiet beauty to these final resting places
Of our hero dead. The American nag,
symbol of the glorious tradition which
inspired these men in life to offer them
selves in their countrys cause, now
floats in silent tribute over their graves.
At each cemetery is an American care
taker, himself a veteran Of the war, one
who knows through what these men
went, and whose heart is in his work.
In addition to his other duties, he ex-
tends a welcome to those who come to
the cemetery seeking information and
aids them in locating individual graves
or obtaining other desired information.
Marble Grave Markers. '
The wooden grave markers originally
erected in these cemeteries have been
replaced by white marble headstones-
cross for those of Christian faith, a
shield of David for those Of Jewish
faith. On these headstones are en-
graved the name, rank, organization
as the State from which he came.
These headstones are more than three
feet high, and stand as individual and
imperishable monuments to those who
gave their lives. Here and there Is the
grave Of one who remains unknown. the
headstone bearing the inscription:
Here rests In honored glory an Amer
lean soldier known but to God"
These cemeteries are under the juris-
diction of the quartermaSter general
of the Army, who has developed them,
National Commission of Fine Arts. An
office of the quartermaSter general,
known as the American Graves Regis
tration Service. is in direct charge or
these cemeteries and gives to them Its
constant care and supervision. Those
who visit Europe will find the head
quarters Of this service in Paris, at 20
Rue Molitor. Information concerning
the cemeteries or graves can be OBJ
tanned either there or from the quar-
termaster general, Washington. c..
The Battle Monuments Commission
is erecting memorial chapel in each
of these cemeteries.
The largest of our overseas ceme-
teries Is known as the MeuSe-Argonne
American Cemetery. It contains II. l34
graves. The soldiers who rest there
came from almost every division In the