THE GLORIOUS DEAD.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1921, Page 4

THE GLORIOUS DEAD.

WASHINGTON BIST UN YE I LED. LONDON, June 1. Up the steps of St Paul’s ( athcdral vesterday afternoon walked a blind \ .C. iifiiior in khaki, Captain Towse, led by an old white-haired man dressed in the Idue I logged utiilorni oi a captain in the American Civil War ol IStil. . Those two representatives oi the heroism of the United States and Great Britain, one walking slowly been use ot his blindness and the other because of his age, typified the spirit of the ceremony to which they were going-a memorial service to the American soltimes, sailors, and marines who lie buried in the United Kingdom and the unveiling of a bust, of George .Yashingtmi in the crypt of the cathedral by the U.S. Ambassador, Mr George Harvey. Standing outside the great portico ol the cathedral were a picturesque group „f Civil War veterans, in the uniform ol (it) years ago, acting as it guard ol honour to the Ambassador. After the memorial service, dining w hich the famous Battle Hymn of the Republic was sung, the Ambassador descended to the crypt and unveiled a br.m, se bust of George Washington, a gift from the people of the Lnited States to the people of this country. In his address Mr Harvey referred to George Washington as “a great British soldier and a great American patriot.” He (Mr Harvey) believed sincerely they were entering upon a now era of respect and co-operation between the two great branches of their common race, with better understanding, with no Imrricis left in the way, to a point where not only themselves Inn also all the world would recognise that what they did was for their benefit as much as for themselves. A message was read from President Harding, who is the president of the committee which sent the gift. “On the occasion of unveiling busts of George Washington at St Paul’s, the Town Hall of Liverpool, and Sulgrave Manor, I am moved to express my hope that these gifts from the American |x*ople may be received as testifying anew their long-established friendship for the British nation,” he said. "They will remind both peoples that Washington was an Englishman by birth and tradition before lie became leadei in founding the new Anglo-Saxon nation of this continent. “In the greatest and the most unselfish effort that men ever put forth to protect human honour and treasured institutions these two peoples (the United States and Great Britain) stood shoulder to. shoulder.” During the proceedings a message was read from Mr Llovd George and also a letter from Sir Charles Wakefield, offering to present to the American ■people busts of Lord Chatham and Edmund Burke. Admiral Sims, who was present, hail a great reception from the public when he left the eathed-al. A large emigre(ration attended the memorial service. The graves of United States soldiers buried Li England were decorated yestords.v — I “Decoration Day” m tile United States—with flags sent over from the United States and also with wreaths. Colonel Sol lie rt. U.S. Military Attache in London, accompanied by offiems of the U.S. Army and Navy, yesterday on behalf of the American Legion, placed a. wreath of blue and white flowers on the Cenotaph and another on the Unknown Warrior’s Grave in Westminster Abbey. Yesterday in the new cemetery at Queenstown the three large graves oontninin" about 200 of tbo victims of the Lusitania were decorated with wreaths nt a ceremony arranged by Air Mason Mitchell, U.S. Consul.