Evening star., 1936-09-13


terments, 140,469 were unidentified.
In q few years the original wooden
markers began to decay, and in 1870
Congress ordered them replaced by
white marble headstones. Since no
specifications were given when bids
to furnish these marble stones were
called for, some $50 sample stones OF
every conceivable size and shape were
submitted to the War Department.
After months of indecision, plain
white stone was selected, which, with
slight changes, is the headstone fur.
nished by the Government at the pres
ent time. BY 1879 all the wooden
markers in the national cemeteries
had been replaced by marble stones.
THE Government now furnishes
= three types Of headstones. AL
though practically the same size-39
inches high, IL inches wide and 4
inches thick-each has its distinctive
feature. The original design, curved
at the top with the inscription carved
in q sunken shield, is used for Civil
War veterans and also for the un.
marked graves of veterans Of the Revo-
lutionary War, the War Of 1912, the
Mexican War and the Indian cam
paigns, and since 1898 for veterans of
the Spanish-American War. The Con-
federate tombstone is pointed at the
top and bears the Cross Of Honor of
the Confederate States above the in
scription. For World War veterans
not buried in European cemeteries the
headstone is slightly rounded at the
top, and above the inscription is the
Latin Cross for Christians and the
Cross Of David for Hebrews.
During the World War the graves
Of Americans were marked with white
wooden crosses. After the war per-
manent cemeteries, similar TO the
national cemeteries in the United
States, were established in England,
France and Belgium, and the white
wooden crosses were replaced with
crosses of white marble, which are the
official headstones for World War vet
Grams buried in Europe.
The Government purchased rights
for the cemetery in England, the one
in Belgium and for four of the six in
France. The French government pre-
sented to the United States the Meuse-
Argonne and Suresnes burial rights.
In Europe only burial rights in per-
petuity, giving the same security as
absolute ownership does in this coun-
tray, may be purchased for cemeteries.
Since 1884 these eight European
cemeteries-which are not now CLASH
fed as national cemeteries-have been
under the jurisdiction of the American
Battle Monuments Commission. of
which Gen. John J. Pershing is the
head. This commission had previously
erected in each cemetery a beautiful
memorial chapel in which were in
scribed the names Of all INDICATED
soldiers who were killed or died in
the vicinity.
THE only national cemetery on for
eign soil is that at Mexico City.
Mexico. Shortly after the Mexican
War, and decade before the national
cemetery plan was adopted, Congress
appropriated $4,000 for q cemetery
in Mexico City to serve as q burial
place for soldier dead and for any
Americans who might die there. There
are 1868 white headstones on this
two-acre plot.
The Sitka, Alaska, National Gene
terry is the only other one outside the
continental limits of the United States.
Evidently started while an Army, Navy
and Marine post was stationed there,
the graveyard was for many years
uncared for after the forces were with
drawn. At last. however. in 1924, this
lonely far-away spot was designated
as q national cemetery and its future
care and protection we're assured.
The yellowed pages Of the Memorial
files of the Quartermaster Generals
Office yield many interesting bits Of
information about these cemeteries.
There is, for instance, the record that
the Government purchased the site
for the national cemetery at Beaufort,
S. c., at a tax sale held by the Dis
trict Of South Carolina in 1853. The
cemetery at st. Augustine, Fla, was
started in 1912, during the Florida
War. but was not classified as q ma
tional cemetery until 1881.
The A defenders Of the Capital
who fell at Fort Stevens are buried
just across the street in the Battle
Ground National Cemetery in the Ma
tion's Capital. While viewing the
progress Of this battle, President Lin
coin narrowly escaped one Of the
enemy's bullets. Four civilian en-
ployes Of the Quartermaster Corps,
who were drowned while pursuing
John Wilkes Booth, the assassin Of
President Lincoln, are buried In the
cemetery at Alexandria, Va.
The State of Maryland purchased
part Of the site of Antietam Battlefield
In 1855 and established q cemetery in
which the original burials included
members Of troops from 10 States. A
board Of trustees administered this
cemetery until 1877, when it was
formally transferred to the United
States Government.
THE National Cemetery at York
town, Va, commemorating the
heroes Of the Civil War. is part of
the area made famous by the surren-
der OF CORVALLIS. The United States,
Marine Corps erected monument in.
the National Cemetery at Barrancass
Fla, for their comrades who died Of
yellow fever In 1888. These yellowed
pages further reveal that two genera
tions Of heroes, those Of the War Of
CONTINUED on Eighth Page.)