Evening star., 1953-11-11
As an Unknown Soldier Was Laid to Rest

AS an UnknO
oThirty-tiDo years ago today, ran
American soldier kf,otDt but to God"
1DdS laid to rest in Arlington Gene
terry. The occasion inspired Associated
Press Reporter Kirke L. Simpson to
tDrite journalistic classic. His
description OF that special Armistice
Day ceremony, slightly abridged, is
herewith reprinted:
By Kirke l. Simpson
NDER the wide and starry skies Of
~ his own homeland Americas
unknown dead from France sleeps to-
night. soldier home from the wars.
Alone, he lies in the narrow cell of
stone that guards his body; but his
soul has entered into the spirit that is
America. Wherever liberty is held close
in mems hearts, the honor and the
glory and the pledge Of high endeavor
poured out over this nameless one Of
fame will be told and sung by Ameri-
cans for all time.
Scrolled across the marble arch of
the memorial raised to American sol
dier and sailor dead, everywhere, which
stands like monument behind his
tomb, runs this legend: 1--WE here highly
resolve that these dead shall not have
died in vain"
The words were spoken by the mar
tyred Lincoln over the dead at Gettys-
burg. And today with voice strong with
determination and ringing with deep
tI1of
high resolve over the coffin of the SOL
dier who died for the flag in France.
Great men in the worlds affairs
heard that high purpose reiterated by
the man who stands at the head of the
American people. And in their ears is
ringing President Harding's declaration
today beside that flag wrapped, honor
laden bier:
'"There must be, there shall be, the
commanding voice of a conscious civil
ization against armed warfare"
Far across the seas, other unknown
dead, hallowed in memory by their
countrymen, as this American soldier
is enshrined in the heart Of America,
sleep their last He, in whose veins ran
the blood of British forbears lies be-
meath a great stone in ancient West
minister Abbey; he of France, beneath
the Arc de Triomphe, and he OF Italy
under the Altar of the Fatherland IN
Rome.
And it seemed today that they, too.
must be here among the Potomac hills
to greet an American comrade come to
Join their glorious company, to testify
their approval of the high words OF
hope spoken by Americas President. All
day long the Nation poured out its heart
in pride and glory for the nameless
American.
AS he was carried past through the
banks of humanity that lined Pennsyl-
vania avenue a solemn, reverent hush
held the living walls. Yet there was not
so much of sorrow as of high pride in
it all, a pride beyond the reach of
shouting and the clamor that marks
less sacred moments in life.
Out there in the broad avenue was
a simple soldier, dead for honor of the
flag. He was nameless. No man knew
what part in the great life of the Ma
ton he had filled when last he passed
over his home soil. But in France he
had died as Americans always have
been ready to die, for the flag and what
it means.
Soldiers, sailors and MarineS-all
played their part in the thrilling spec
tacles as the cortege rolled along And
just behind the caSket, with its faded
French flowers on the draped flag,
walked the President, the chosen leader
of hundred million, in whose name
he was chief mourner at his bier Beside
him strode the man under whom the
fallen hero had lived and died in
France, Gen. Pershing, wearing only the
single Medal of Victory that every
American soldier might wear as his only
decoration.
Then row on row, came the men who
lead the Nation today or have guided
its destinies before.
Behind these came the carriage in
which rode Woodrow Wilson, also
stricken down by infirmities as he
served in the highest place of the Ma
ton, just as the humble private riding
in such state ahead had gone down
before shell or bullet
People in thousands were moving
about the great circle of the amphi-
theater The great ones to whom places
had been given in sacred inclosure and
the plain folk who trudged the long way
just to glimpse the pageant from afar,
were finding their places.
Down below the platform placed for
the casket, in stone vault, lay wreaths
and garlands brought from England's
King and guarded by British soldiers.
Above the platform gathered men
whose names ring through history
BRAND. Foch, Beatty, Balfour, Jacques,
Diaz and otherS-in brilliant array of
place and power.
President Harding stepped forward
beside the coffin to say for America the
thing that today was nearest to the
Nations heart. that sacrifices such as
this nameless man, fallen in battle,
might perhaps be made unnecessary
down through the coming years.
Mr.. Harding showed strong emotion
as his lips formed the last words of the
address. He paused. then with raised
hand and head bowed, went on in the
measured, rolling period of the Lords
Prayer The response that came back
to him from the thousands he faced,
from the other thousands out over the
slopes beyond. perhaps from still other
1hio 1nI Th,