The Ceremonies
On the morning of
November 11, 1921, Armistice Day, the casket was removed from the
Rotunda of the Capitol and escorted to the Memorial Amphitheater in
Arlington National Cemetery under a military escort. The Unknown Soldier
was escorted by general officers of the Army and Admirals of the Navy
for pallbearers, and noncommissioned officers of the Navy and Marine
Corps for body bearers.
Following the
caisson bearing the flag-draped casket walked such a concourse as had
never before followed a soldier to his final resting place-The President
of the United States, the Vice-President, Chief Justice and Associate
Justices of the Supreme Court, members of the Diplomatic Corps,
recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Senators, members of
Congress, the Generals of the Armies of World War I and former Wars, and
other distinguished Army, Navy and Marine Corps officers, Veterans of
World War I and former Wars, State officials and representatives of
patriotic organizations.
Solemnly through
streets lined with thousands gathered to pay homage to those who died on
the field of battle, the procession moved on to historic Arlington. Upon
arrival at the Amphitheater the casket was borne through the South
Entrance to the apse where it was reverently placed upon the catafalque.
During the processional the vast audience both within and without the
Amphitheater stood uncovered.
A simple but
impressive funeral ceremony was conducted which included an address by
the President of the United States, who conferred upon the Unknown
Soldier the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished
Service Cross. Following this ceremony special representatives of
foreign governments associated with the United States in World War I
each in turn conferred upon the Unknown the highest military decoration
of their Nation:
The Belgium Croix
de Guerre
The English Victoria Cross
The French Medaille Militaire &
Croix de Guerre
The Italian Gold Medal for Bravery
The Romanian Virtutes Militara
The Czechoslavak War Cross
The Polish Virtuti Militari
At the conclusion
of these ceremonies the remains, preceded by the clergy, President and
Mrs. Harding and others seated in the apse, were borne to the
sarcophagus where a brief committal service was held. With three salvos
of artillery, the sounding of taps and the National Salute, the
impressive ceremonies were brought to a close.
