Evening star., 1945-12-24

1--WE owe our freedom to you"
The casket was placed on beams
bridging the open grave under the
canopy.
The chaplain, Col. Edwin Royal
Carter, jr., of Richmond, Va,
read from the Bible: I'm the midst
of life, we are in death"
AS he intoned the words, the flag
was lifted from the casket. Sol
diers held it a few inches above
the silver top as the chaplain spoke.
Then he began reciting the Lords
Prayer. Every one uncovered.
A squad of Alpine Chasseurs in
whose company Gen. Patton had
been an honorary master sergeant
snapped their rifles to attention.
When the last Of the prayer had
been said, the soldiers folded the
flag and handed it to Mrs. Patton.
Three Volleys Fired.
A curt command sounded outside
the canopy: Half left-aim-fire
Three volleys splintered the heavy
silence.
And then the plangent notes of a
bugle rang in the air. This was taps
for Gen. Patton, the soldiers COM
mand for sleep.
Again the military attendants
snapped to attention. The Russian,
British and French generals, their
great coats cleaning with medals,
held themselves in salute until Mrs.
Patton turned to leave.
AS soon as the space beneath the
canopy was empty, the Bishop of
Luxembourg in his purple robe en-
tered. For moment, he stood look
ing intently at the casket. Then he
bowed his head and his lips moved
in prayer.
When he left, three men entered
They wore no hats and their cloth
ing was marked wierdly with parallel
black and white stripes. These were
Luxembourgers who had been held
in a German prison camp until Gen
Patton's army liberated them.
After this, all the thousands of
people who had entered the ceme-
terry filed in or near the canopy,
paying last homage to the general.
Marshal Georgi K. zhukov. assist
ant commander in chief Of the Red
Army, reached Luxembourg last
night to attend the funeral.
Gen. PattonS body was buried
next to the grave Of Pvt. John
Dro1yuyo ra Cf Defroif
Crowds at Station.
Crowds Of Luxembourgers had
gathered around the station and
lined the streets leading east from
the city by the murky, rain-spat-
tered daybreak to pay last tribute
to the commander they had made
an honorary citizen.
Special military police from Metz
were on duty-brought up last night
from France because all United
States military installations have
been moved out of Luxembourg.
Led by Prince Felix, the highest
officials Of Luxembourg were at the
cemetery for the burial With the
Prince we're the Prime Minister and
members of the cabinet, the chair
man of the House of Representa-
tives, the Bishop of Luxembourg
and representatives of the Council
of State, the Court of Justice and
officials of the city of Luxembourg
1t. Gen. Joseph Pierre Koenig,
commander of French forces in
Germany, came by special train, ac-
companied by Col. de la Bretasche.
1t. Gen. Thomas represented
Britain, and the Russians were rep
resented by 1t. Gen. Lukianchenko
and three high ranking officers.
Services Yesterday.
Two Army chaplains conducted
the 22-minute Episcopal funeral
service yesterday at Heidelberg. It
was marked by the singing of one of
the generals favorite hymns, THE
Son of God Goes Forth to War;"
and recital of two of his best-loved
Psalms, the Goth and Esd. There
were no eulogies.
Mrs. Patton. grieving but erect,
and her brother were the only
members of the family who at
tended the services, held in the 10th
century Christ Church in the heart
of the town.
At the conclusion Gen. Paton's
body was carried on a halftrack to
the railroad station along a mile
long route lined by more than 5000
American soldiers and German civ
ilians, who had stood shoulder to
shoulder for hours awaiting the
procession.
After a. 19-gun salute the flag
draped casket was placed aboard
one of the two special funeral trains
which rolled away in the winter
dusk for Luxembourg.
600 in Church.
Approximately 600 soldiers, in
cluding virtually all the top-rank-
ing American officers in Europe, and
representatives Of a dozen countries,
crowded into the church for the
service.
Mrs. Patton and her brother sat
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