Evening star., 1946-05-30
Truman Leads
Nation 5 Tribute
To War Heroes
Places Wreath at
Tomb; Capital Lists
Many Services

Silently placing a wreath on
the Tomb of the Unknown SOL
dier at Arlington Cemetery, Pres
ident Truman today led Wash
ington and the Nation in tribute
to our dead of every war.
The Chief Executive formally
opened long list of Memorial Day
services. Accompanied by his mili-
tar aide, Brig. Gen. Harry H,
Vaughan; his naval aide, Capt.
Clark Clifford, and members of his
family, the President arrived at Ar
lington shortly before 9 am.
Alighting from the White House
car, Mr.. Truman walked briskly
with his aides toward the tomb. AS
he approached the halloWed spot, a
soldier handed him a big wreath of
white roses. Mr.. Truman placed it
gently on the tomb, then, with his
aides. stood at attention while a
Marine bugler blew Taps"
Honor Guard Flanks Tomb.
An honor guard of soldiers, sailors
and Marines flanked the tomb dur
ing the brief exercises. Due to the
early hour there was only a small
crowd in attendance.
With the President at the ceme-
terry ceremonies were his sister, Miss
Mary Truman; Mrs. Truman's
brothers, Frank and George WAL
lace, and Mrs. George Wallace.
There was to be long procession
OF patriotic groups to the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier during the
day, and by nightfan it was ex-
pected there would be scores Of
wreaths at the tomb.
There were exercises at noon IN
the Amphitheater under auspices of
the GAR Memorial Day Corp. Gen.
Omar N. Bradley, Veterans Admin
lstrator, spoke there at 1890 pm.
during the latter ceremonies.
GAR Auxiliary Ceremony.
Before the start of the principal
service in the Arlington Ampithea-
ter, the Women's Auxiliary Corps of
the GAR conducted a ceremony
near Arlington Mansion at the mon
ument commemorating more than
1000 unknown soldiers of the Civil
War.
This ceremony, in which a de-
tachment from the Marine Corps
Band participated. consisted of an
nual memorial ritual of the auxil-
larry and the laying of wreaths.
The District of Columbia depart
ment of the United Spanish War
Veterans gathered at the Spanish
War Monument at the same hour.
At 10:45 am. services at the Main
Mast were conducted by the Admir-
| al George Dewey Naval Camp, and
shortly before II o'clock the General
Nelson A. Miles Camp held services
at the grave of Gen. Miles.
The earliest of the wreath-laying
ceremonies at the cemetery took
place at o'clock. Three children
of Army flyers killed in action
placed a wreath at the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier in behalf of the
Air Force Association. The chill
dren were Jennis NJ. Strickland III
Of 701 Flower avenue, Takoma Park,
Md, whose father was 1st 1t. Jen-
mis- M. Strickland II, and Edward
and Alan Ducher of 1880 North
Longfellow street, Arlington, whose
father was Flight Officer Edward
H. Ducher.
Planes to Drop Flowers.
THESE children, together with J.
year-old Lynne Murray Strickland,
participated in ceremonies at Bol-
ling Field yesterday when flowers,
bouquets and wreaths were pre-
sented for distribution from air.
planes over Arlington Cemetery.
Col. Willis S. Fitch, executive di.
rector of the Air Force Association,
and the children turned over the
flowers to Brig. Gen. Burton M.
Hovey, commanding general of Boil
ing Field. Gen. Hovey, in turn pre-
sented them to Capt. Richard L..
Ramer, fight commander of the
three B-25s which will circle the
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