Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-12
Armistice Day
Sees US. Renew
Pledge 10 Dead
President Leads
Observance at
Tomb of Unknown

A Nation united in the desire for
peace yesterday dedicated .Arrhistice
Day of 1899 to a renewal of its
pledge to keep faith with the men
who died in the war to end war"
For a moment of dramatic ST.
lence, President Roosevelt symbol
lied the prayer in every heart as he
stood with uncovered head before
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
on the sun-drenched heights of Ar
lington National Cemetery.
The. quiet moment on the Virginia
hilltop was weighted with the
knowledge that just across the Po-
tomac the Army and Navy Depart
ments were in the midst of the
country's greatest peacetime rearm-
ament to meet the threat implied
by the renewal OF the cannonade on
the western front in France
Mr.. Roosevelt did not speak. He
stood at attention beside the tomb
of cleaning marble while Capt.
Daniel J. Callaghan, his naval aide,
deposited a wreath of white chrys-
anthemums at the base of the tomb,
and an Army bugler sounded taps.
The echoes resounded over hills
sprinkled with soldiers graves and
decked In autumn foliage.
President Speaks to v. M. 1.
While other national leaders
united in voicing the hope that
Americas sacrifices in the World
War would help to keep her out of
the present conflict, Mr.. Roosevelt
returned to the White House to adj
dress by long-distance telephone the
faculty, students and graduates eel
ebrating the Tooth anniversary Of
Virginia Military Institute at Lex
ington, Va.
The President expressed the hope
that men would LAY down weapons
of hatred" and added: Like our
ancestors we work for peace, we
pray for peace, and we arm for
peace"
The Chief Executive said that the
Nation always has needed and
always will need citizens trained in
the art Of military defense. and that
by mo other means can we hope to
maintain and perpetuate the demo-
cratic form of constitutional, repre-
sentative government"
He added, The only object of
arms is to bring about condition
in which quiet peace under liberty
can endure. I have sought
I still seek-in all simplicity, to md
the road toward this peace"
2l-Gun' Salute Fired.
As tie President entered the gates
Of Arlington Cemetery heg was
greeted by 2l-gun salute. AT the
Arnphitheater he stood beside his car
while the Army Band played the
national anthem.
He was escorted by Brig. Gen.
Edwin M. Watson and Capt. Gala
CHAN, his chief Army and Navy aides,
as he walked slowly to the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier.
The omcial party included Secre-
tary of War Harry Woodring,
Charles Edison, acting Secretary of
the Navy: Gen. George c. Marshall,
Army chief of staff. and Admiral
Harold r. Stark, chief of naval
operations.
Secretary Edison told the crowd
of officials, veterans. members of
patriotic organizations and spec
tators who crowded the amphithea-
ter. I'VE want no more long rows of
graves. This country is practically
unanimous in its fervent desire to
maintain peace. In the very
establishment of the shattered
dreams and ideals of those who sur
vived the Great War, there is
spiritual gain in the fact that we
may keep faith with the dead by
directing every effort to non-involve-
ment in the present struggle"
This sentiment was echoed by
Raymond ]. Kelly, national COM
mander of the American Legion.
THE Armistice of November II,
1918. did end. in irrevocable fashion,
for these United States any further
participation in European conflict
To us it was true armistice. To us
lsee ARMISTICE DAY, Page ABB