Milford chronicle., 1938-05-27

Foreign governments, left at thI
Tomb total of 339 wreaths, sprays
and medals, an average of nearly one
a day. Readers of this magazine are
familiar with the story of the Tomt
and of the large Amphitheater be
hind it, for each Armistice Day the
| National Commander of the Legion
is the presiding officer at exercises
there, and with the President of the
United States and representatives ol
various legion units places a wreath
at the Tomb.
Scattered throughout the cemetery
are numerous mementOes of the mil
itary and naval services. The mast
of the famous Battleship Maine oil
1898 memory is in Arlington, as are
stone and bronze memorials OF that
and other wars. The Army's Fort
Myer is directly back of the ceme-
terry.
When General John A. Logan is
sued his famous order as Command
er of the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie calling upon G. A. r. Posts to set
aside May 80 as a day for decorating
the graves of comrades he started
the movement that caused Memorial
Day to be celebrated as holiday In
all United States jurisdictions and,
now, In fOrty-two states. After the
World War, with numerous veteran
organizations springing up, the war
veterans of the District Of COLUMBIA
united and decided to hold single
service on Memorial Day at the Gem
etery. Thus the G. A. r., the United
Spanish War Veterans, The Ameri-
can Legion, the Veterans OF Foreign
Wars, and the Disabled American
Veterans.
The corporation has no paid Off
GERS or directors. Until the time of
the Economy Act Congress appro-
priated S2.5O0 each year for the
Memorial Day exercises at the ceme-
terry. Now the expenses are met by
meagre contributions from patriotic
citizens and by sacrifices made nee
essary for members of the corpora
tion. Following announcements over
the radio and in newspapers, howers
are collected and left at designated
places on May 20 and from these
places are transported to Arlington
on the morning of May so. Partic-
ularIy is the corporation indebted tc
the Columbia and National Broad
casting Systems and their able corps
of announcers for this patriotic SER
vice. Under the direction of the ofti-
GERS of the corporation. three hun
dred or more volunteer boy and girl
scouts 30 to Arlington and decorate
the graves on the morning OF May
80. II has been the purpose Of the
to see that no grave Is
left neglected. On each grave Will
be found an American aag and
fresh-cut flower or an artificial How
er
Splendid cooperation IL received |
from the officials at Arlington who |
preserve the flags. many OF which |
are purchased each year by the Cor /
poratlon, particularly for cemeteries
other than Arlington. The Amphi-
lheater is beautifully decorated with
ferns and flags and the grounds are
policed without any expense to the
After the decoration OF
.he graves is completed, wreath-lay-
ing ceremonies are held at the Tomb
1f the Unknown Soldier and at the
rarious other monuments represen-
.ative of the organizations which
constitute the Corporation.
When these ceremonies are con-
.luded Memorial Services are held
n the Amphitheater. Speakers of ma
ional prominence are chosen to ad-
lress the assemblage. While the
Amphitheater will seat only about
1000, the grounds are amplified so
hat those in attendance, ranging
rom 10000 to 100000, may hear the
music played by the Marine Corps
Band and the songs sung by nation
lily known radio artists, and the
'ther items on the program.
This year these commemorative
ervices will be broadcast between
and2 p. m. Eastern Standard Time.
While the services are In progress
n Arlington, like services are being
eld in the various national and pri-
ate cemeteries throughout the Uni
ed States. II is the ambition Of the
'eteran organizations TO maintain
he spirit Of Memorial Day as one OF
election and retrospeetion lest II
e degraded into joy-making holi-
ay without any thought Of the or
yinal purpose OF its creation. II was
~ happy privilege to have been one
the incorporators Of the Memorial I
lay Corporation and to have been !
ince its formation member Of the