Evening star., 1960-09-25
SPIRES OF THE SPIRIT
A Patriot Spire
By DR.. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
Chaplain Of the United States Senate

A tall, gaunt MidweStern
lawyer was nominated in
1860 for the presidency. The
candidate was in the midst Of
the campaign which sent him
to the White House when a
baby was born in Linn Coun-
ty, Missouri.
Just before Abraham Lin
coin assumed the most fear
some task any Chief Execu-
tive Of the Republic had ever
faced. with the Union SEEM
ingly falling apart. this Mid
western infant was Chris
tened John Joseph Pershing.
The birthday of this child,
destined to make that name
famous, was September 13
one hundred years ago, the
year before the Civil War
began. Twenty-six years later
he was graduated from the
United States Military Acad-
emy at West Point. There
followed q brilliant Army
career which took him to far
places of the world. Promo
ton in rank followed promo
ton to the stars of a major
general at 56. The span VI his
earthly life was to extend
seven years past the eighth
decade, when in 1948, every
where honored and revered
and serving his country to the
last. all the trumpets sounded
for him on the other side.
His domestic life was shad-
owed by a great tragedy when
a fire took the lives of his
loved wife and three small
daughters. The only one left
from that happy family circle
was one boy who was snatched
as a brand from the burning
by a heroic servant. John ].
Pershing faced an altered
world with the same calm
courage with which later he
met the hard decisions of
battle strategy with the lives
of vast armies in his tender,
yet determined, hands.
When in 1917 as war was
declared and President Wood
row Wilson proclaimed the
supreme hour of the Nation
had come" he designated
Gen. Pershing. on his valiant
record, as Commander of the
Expeditionary Forces. When
America entered the titanic
conflict raging in Europe the
issue was by then plainly
seen. It was the victory or
defeat Of the precious things
which are the very breath of
this Republic.
The ceremony at Arlington
on the hundredth birthday of
Gen. Pershing, when in the
presence of a distinguished
company. the President OF
the United States laid a
wreath at the simple white
hillside stone, was moving be-
yond words. Then later in
the day the ranks of fighters
for peace. representing all
units of the armed forces.
with stirring music marched
down Constitution avenue in
the Nations Capital. Later
still. in the concourse of the
Pentagon. evergreena of graf
itude and forget-me-nots of
love we're woven in eloquent
tributes. The centennial was
also observed at the place of
his birth, and at Army posts
across the Nation. For those
who witnessed it, it was in
deed a fitting tribute as Taps
were once more sounded FOR
a truly great soldier.
AS my personal tribute to
Gen. Pershing may l re-
late an incident indelibly
stamped upon my memory
When it was all over. a,
a national hero he came back
in triumph to the tumultuous
welcomes which awaited him
Shortly afterward he re-
turned to New York to take
part in some great occasion
He accepted my inyitation to
dedicate the bronze war me-
mortal tablet in the great
New York church of which
I was then pastor. Well do ]
remember as a young minis
ter the thrilling Joy that was
mine when his letter came
saying that it was in his
heart to do as we had re-
uuested as a gesture of graft