The Selection
Following the
conclusion of the Great War, the Secretary of War delegated to the US
Army Quartermaster Corps the duty of selecting the Unknown Soldier. The
Quartermaster Corps General directed the Chief, American Graves
Registration Service in Europe to select from among the burials of
America's unknown dead, the bodies of four who fell in the combat area
in order that one could be anonymously designated and buried with full
military honors.
Four bodies of unknown soldiers were selected, one from each of the
following cemeteries: Aisne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, Somme and St. Mihiel--and
brought to Chalons where they were placed in the Hotel de Ville.
The fact that the bodies selected were those of Americans was determined
by the location of place of death, original burial and uniforms. The
utmost care was taken to see that there was no evidence of
identification on the bodies selected and no indication that their
identity could ever be established.
After the four
bodies were arranged in the Hotel de Ville, the next step was the matter
of selecting the one to represent all of the unknown American dead. This
ceremony, though simple was most impressive.
In view of his
outstanding service Sergeant Edward F.
Younger,
who was on duty with the American Forces in Germany, was given the honor
of making the final selection.
On the morning of
October 24, 1921, in the presence of the Quartermaster General, the
Commanding General of the American Forces in Germany, the Mayor of
Chalons-sur-Marne, high officers of the French Army, distinguished
French citizens and eminent American and French civilians the selection
was made.
While a French
military band played an appropriate air, SGT Younger slowly entered the
room where the four caskets were placed. Passing between two lines
formed by the officials he silently advanced to the caskets, circled
them three times and placed a spray of white roses on the third casket
from the left. He then faced the body, stood at attention, and saluted.
He was immediately
followed by officers of the French Army who saluted in the name of the
French people.
