The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-04-19
Roosevelt Is Buried In Hyde
Park Estate Sunday Morning


lin D. Roosevelt was committed
Sunday to the warm brown earth
of his native soil at Hyde Park,
New York.
Under cloudless, spring sky,
the body of the late Chief Execu-
tive was lowered solemnly into a
grave in the flower garden of his
family estate.
The body had been brought
overnight from Washington,
where a state funeral was held
Saturday in the East Room of the
White House. The Cabinet, SUI
preme court, representatives of
other lands, members of Senate
and House, and other high Off
Gals in public life accompanied
it.
Removed from a special train
alongside the shimmering Hud-
son, just below the hills which
sweep up to the estate, the casket
was placed on a caisson and driv-
en- slowly along between lines of
men in uniform standing stiffly
alert to honor their late COM
mander in chief.
Behind the caisson, a Negro
cavalryman led a black horse
draped in black, carrying sabre
and boots symbolic of Mr.. Roose-
velt's position as head of the ma
tons military forces.
It was exactly 10 a. m. (EWT)
when the first gun of a presiden-
tial salute was fired from battery
in the library grounds to the east
of the quarter-acre garden. They
doomed at solemnly-spaced inter-
walls.
An honor guard lining the hem
lock hedge around the garden
stood at attention.
A few moments later, the dis
tant melody of a bugle came to
those within the garden. A flight
of bombers and another of train
ing planes droned overhead.
The beat of muffled drums in
slow cadence rolled through the
wooded hills above the Hudson
In the distance, gradually draw
ing nearer, a band played a funer-
al dirge.
Promptly at 1920, the national
anthem sounded and, as the
wheels of the caisson noisily
ground the gravel of the roadway.
the notes of Nearer, My God, to
Thee" were played softly
Through a passageway at one
corner, the elderly, grey-bearded
rector of the Presidents Episco-
pal church at Hyde Park walked
across the newly-clipped grass
toward the grave.
The Rev. George w. Anthony
was wearing the black and white
surplice and stole of the clergy.
He removed black velvet skull
cap and took his position at the
head of the grave, toward the
west. The family followed him.
Facing the grave was Brig. Gen.
Elliott Roosevelt. the second son,
on the left.
Mrs. Roosevelt, her face wan
and drawn, it's pallor contrasting
with her black attire, was on FL
liott's right. Next to her was the
only daughter, Anna, and her
husband, Col. John Boettiger.
Behind them were the daugh-
ters-in-law-wives of the boys
who all are in service. Behind
them stood President and Mrs.
Truman, taking an inconspicuous
role in moment in history re-
served for the dead, rather than
for the living.
The services followed the or
binary Episcopal burial rites for
the dead. There were no words
Of eulogy, only the word of God
The services were brief. They
were over by 10:45. The flag
which Mrs. Roosevelt clutched
tightly was handed to Elliott, and
the family filed out.
Mrs. Roosevelt and other mem
bers of the family walked out
slowly, and went to the manor
house.
Several onlookers reached
earthward to pick up few SOU
venirs, including some empty
shells dropped from the salutine
cadet rifles.
Members of the cabinet, SUI
preme Court and Senate anc
House then filed through the tai
hemlock hedge opening, each tax
ing a final glance at the flower
banked graveside.
President and Mrs. Truman
Mrs. Roosevelt and Washington
officials left Hyde Park by spe'
cial train for Washington, little
more than three hours after they
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