Evening star., 1940-05-31

1t was Col. John T. Ryan-then
retired sergeant of the United States
Cavalry-who led his detachment in
the first services at Arlington.
A Soldier at IA.
According to those who stood by in
his last moments, he knew that
somewhere off in the green hills of
Virginia Taps" was being sounded.
All his life, Col. Ryan had been
devoted to the American flag and
all that it stood fora soldier in
the Union Army when he was IA
years OF age, a charter member of
the Grand Army of the Republic,
an official in Kit Carson Post No. 2,
and a member of other patriotic
societies.
Col. Ryan at first refused to be
hospitalized when his final illness
came some three months ago:
mo sir" he said to his only son.
William. If I 60 to bed now I'm
liable never to get up again-and I
don't want to die before Memorial
Day"
He waited for the day. Never
was there a Memorial Day but Col.
Ryan got out his old Grand Army
hat, the blue coat with the brass
buttons, the neatly pressed trousers
and his numerous badges. Then
on he would 60 to the parade. AS
honors came to him, he was vice
commander of Kit Carson Post to-
ward the last, he usually occupied
place on the reviewing stand and
watched the parade When there
were no more to march he stood
with his last two companions-John
M. Kline, the post commander, and
William F. Dorsey. the post chap
lain-and saluted the flag
Then 1t was off to Arlington to
lay a wreath on the Tomb of the
Unknown Sohdier-symbol of the
last war where an American uniform
was worn.
No Veteran at Services.
1t had been planned that the
three last survivors of the Depart
ment of the Potomac-Ryan, Kline
and Dorsey-would attend yester-
days services. but no one appeared.
1t was the first Memorial Day in
the history of the Grand Army OF
the Republic that no veteran Of
the Civil War carried flag or failed
to lay wreath or flowers of some
sort on a grave.
Mr.. Dorsey, an old Indian fighter
who had come back from vacation
trip to his boyhood home in Ne
braska, was too tired after the Jour-
ney. Mr.. Kline remained at home
because of the weather.
Col. Ryan, born in Baltimore in
l847, ran away to join the Union
Army in the Civil War. He went
through hectic campaigns and
bloody battles without a scratch.
Fought Indians in West.
Following the war he Joined the
9Th Cavalry and fought Indians in
the West for three years.
In 1889 he came to Washington
from Baltimore and became en-
ployed in the Navy Yard as a
moulder. A knowledge of guns got
him the job of training seamen in
the use OF arms for 20 years.
Col. Ryan. his title obtained by
virtue of his long service with the
G. A. R., was employed at the ex-
ecutive door of the Capitol fourteen
years ago up until the time of his
last illness.
Widow Survives.
Besides his son, survivors are his
widow, Mrs. Sally Gates Ryan; three
daughters, Mrs. George H. Ryan of
Washington, Mrs. Rose E. Ryan Of
Brentwood, Md. and Mrs. Willard
R. Pratt of Utica. N. Y; nine grand
children and seven great-grandchil-
dren.
After public ceremonies in the
Wilson Memorial Methodist Church.
754 Eleventh street Sc, where the
body will lie in state from 10 am.
until 2 pm. on Monday, Col Ryan
will be buried with full military
honors.