Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-08


siderable disgust, we read the
Shoddy proposal by the Pen
tagon to save a few dollars at
the expense Of military morale.
This is the doing away with
the age-old tradition Of pro-
viding a riderless black horse
in mourning caparison, carry
ing reversed boots, and a
horse-drawn artillery caisson
to bear the bodies of deceased
military personnel on their
last journey.
Doubtless, it is the brain
child Of some eager-beaver,
avid for a dime-saving record,
with slight knowledge or re-
gard of service custom or mo-
rale. Like a flash an idea was
whelped, posed to Univac, and
the impersonal electronic an
swer imbedded in the budget.
We wonder If at the same
time consideration was given
to the vastly greater dollar
saving to be realized by curb
ing windy coast-to-coast or
even transocean military tele-
phone conferences, not of
Notwithstanding import anyway.
and probably just as well ac-
complished by a letter sent by
ordinary surface mail. Then
there is the matter of "inspec-
ton" involving the use of
plush, four-engine MATS
planes for solo occupancy by
some V1P, complete with
frown, brief case and not
infrequently with frau? And
how about the dollar cost of
one days output of unneces-
sary forms and multi-carbon
copies?
Next on the agenda may well
be a staff study" of the cents.
or even dimes. to be saved by
replacement of the still-pro-
vided graveside firing squad.
Also. thought might be given
to use of a light delivery truck
Tor hauling the remains. and
the sound effect of a single
motor backflre for the stately
dignity of horse drawn cais-
son. and the crash Of three
perfectly executed rifle VOL
leys. And while penny-pinch-
ing. 1t should be recalled that
a bugle costs money, as does
the soldier blowing it during
last rites, so why not instead
use a scratchy amplified pho
nograph record of the sad and
beautiful notes of Taps?
BY all means. yes, let's save
a few dollars. Electric blan-
kets are a must" for the I'M
derprivileged of the Congo. as
are electric refrigerators for
the Ookgluks of the Arctic
Circle.
But as for our deceased serv-
ice people. just dump them in.
I'LL the hole, and call it a day
They neither vote nor pro-
mote.
Three-War Survivor.
n
! was shocked and grieved
TO read in The Star that the
Defense Department proposes
TO give up the age-old tradi-
ton Of providing six white
horses to draw the caisson
bearing the remains of soldiers.
sailors, Marines and others
entitled to such honors. and
also the black riderless horse.
with the boots of the de-
ceased placed backwards in
the stirrups, in the funerals of
cavalry officers and generals.
! feel sure that my fellow
Marines, who. as everyone
knows. are guarding the
streets Of Heaven" and st.
Peter himself, will be equally
shocked and grieved when I
come not riding six white
horses.
Having in mind the vast
sums Of money which allegedly
will be saved by an ungrateful
republic for the upkeep of six
white horses, I have de-
termined to live at least 10.
more years. during which time
my retired pay will Offset a
part of the great saving which
1t is alleged will result from
the mechanical funerals, even
though a further economy may
be effected by using phono-
graph record and dispensing
with the services of the chap
lain and the bugler at the
graveside.
Though this may be treason,
] hope The Star will make the
most OF II.
Maj. Gen. 4. A. Ostermann,
U S Marine Corps. Retiesd.