Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-20
UNWILLING RITES
STAGED BY c. A. R.
Impressive Ceremonies at
Tomb of Unknown Soldier of
Revolution at Alexandria.

by the presence Of leading Revolution
airy patriots and statesmen more than
century and half ago the National
Society Children Of the American Revo-
luton held impressive exercises yester-
day afternoon incident to the unwilling
of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier Of
the American Revolution at the old
Presbyterian Meeting House, Alex
andria, Va, with Secretary of War
Good delivering the principal address.
Declaring the ceremony of deep sig
tary Good developed the thought that
the magnitude of the prosperity OF this
country today is due to the sacrifices
made by the heroes of the Revolution
and the principles for which they shed
blood.
At the same time he indicated that
the continuation OF this prosperity and
national progress is insured by the
spirit of the Children Of the American
Revolution shown by their reverence
for those patriots of the Revolution. He
declared that monuments and memorial
days are the "milestones of progress"
indicating that nations advancement
might be measured by the reverence
shown by its populace for its hero dead.
Has Faith in Rising Generation.
Asserting that it is BETTING that
the tomb of an Unknown Soldier OF
the American Revolution should be
presented the Nation by the Children
of the American Revolution, Mr.. Good
added that 'the pitfalls that lead to
decay" will be avoided as long as the
youth of the country maintains the
patriotism of the children's society:
Mr.. Good referred briefly to the MIS-
IL ek1xyfa Nicotine
House. telling how George Washington
met there with members of his Masonic
lodge and how John Marshall, the Ia
NOUS statesman, and Francis Scott Key.
author of 1.-THE Star Spangled Banner,
attended services there.
A brief history of the grave OF the
unknown soldier. over which the TOMB
has been placed. was given by Jonn
B. Gordon, chairman of the National
Committee for the Restoration OF the
Old Meeting House. Mr.. Gordon re-
counted how the grave was discovered
years ago by workmen excavatlng Tor
an adjoining church and how the dis
covery led to an investigation, show
ing the workmen had, by mistake, gone
over property boundary lines. Find
ing their mistake, they carefully COW
cred up the grave, which contained an
ammunition box and other articles
showing that it was the burial place OF
some soldier of the Revolution. Mr..
Gordon then told of the campaign a
few years ago to restore the old Pres
byterian Meeting House and plans for
preserving the grave of the unknown
Revolutional hero.
Mrs. Van Orsdels Address.
The Introductory address was de-
1iVyaroI hvyN TOc{oh U0y1 nrcdpl
national president of the Children of
the American Revolution, whose term of
Office expires tonight.
Declaring that to the best knowl-
edge of the society the grave is the
only identified one of an unknown
soldier of the American Revolution,
Mrs. Van Orsdel described plans for
the tomb.
On February 20, 1928, she explained,
the American Legion Post No. "a of
Alexandria dedicated temporary
marker. Shortly afterward the national
board of the Children of the American
Revolution became interested and de-
cided to erect the tomb. The name of
each donor to the fund for the memo
rial will be inscribed In a book which
will become the permanent record of
the society. She added: "In having
erected this tomb, and in the dedication
OF it today, the members of the Ma
tional Society of the Children Of the
American Revolution pay tribute to
every soldier Of the American Revolu-
ton, and dedicate themselves anew to
the service of their country.
The inscription on the tomb was read
by William Tyler Page, clerk of the
House of Representatives, its author. 1t
reads as follows:
Here lies soldier hero of the Revo-
luton whose identity Is known but to
God.
His was an idealism that recognized
q Supreme Being: that planted religious
liberty. on our shores; that overthrow
despotism: that established peoples
government; that wrote Constitution
setting metes and bounds OF dele,
gated authority; that fixed standard
Of value upon men above gold, and that
lifted high the torch of civil liberty
along the pathway of mankind.
In ourselves his soul exists as part OF
ours, his memory'S mansion"
Patriotic musical selections were rem
dered by the orchestra of the United
States Army Band, and the audience
joined In singing America" and 1.-THE
Star Spangled Banner" led by Flora
McGill Keefer, with Mildred Kolb
Schulze playing accompaniment on the
Oldest known church organ-the one
installed In the old Presbyterian Meet
Ing House. The program was broadcast
over the radio.
AL of the Introductory ceremony was
held within the old Presbyterian Meet
ing House, after which all adjourned to
the tomb in the churchyard, In rear
Of the meeting house, where the tomb
was oficially unveiled by Alexander
Ladd, descendant of Paul Revere.
Wreaths were placed on the tomb by
representatives of various organizations,
as follows:
For the National Society, G. A. r., by
Mrs. Van Orsdel; National Society,
D. A. R., Mrs. Eugene H. Ray; for the
National Society, s. A. r., Frank =.
Steele, secretary general; by the WASH
ington Society, G. A. r., of Alexandra;
for the American Legion Post, NO. z4,
Of Alexandra, by Milton Glasgow, posi-
commander for the Ann McCaTyy