American involvement in the war began almost two years after the heir apparent to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, was assassinated in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. During that time battle lines had been drawn up by most of the European nations, with the Allies (chiefly France, Britain and Russia) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey) fighting on two different fronts.
Eastern FrontIt was in the East that Germany was able to strike deadly blows against Russia, Serbia and Montenegro by the end of 1915. While operations in this region, especially in northern Italy, kept vast Austrian troops tied down, the Russians concluded a separate peace with Germany which allowed those Central Power forces to move into the Western Front in early 1918.
When President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war, America joined the Allies on April 6, 1917. Events that led President Wilson to take this action included the loss of American lives during the sinking of the British passenger liner Lusitania, sinking of several American ships in early 1917, and the prospect of a German-Mexican alliance against the Untied States.
Western FrontIt was on the this front that grueling trench warfare, horrible living conditions and the use of poison gas became daily news. Over 2 million American men served overseas with the American Expeditionary Force, under the command of General John J. Pershing. Battles such as Verdun, Saint-Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne claimed many young American "doughboys" lives. With the help of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), the allies were able to force Germany to sign an armistice on November 11, 1918.
The Treaty of Versailles ended the war, and changed the face of Europe. Gone were the great empires of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia and Turkey. A vastly different political landscape emerged in the ruins the "Great War", differences that would play a distinct role in the future of the world.
World War I had been one of the bloodiest wars in history, without a single decisive battle. From this conflict sprang new battle concepts, equipment and national strategies during war. The Selective Service was first used in 1917, women were allowed into the main stream work force, tanks and airplanes played key roles and the League of Nations was created.While the world began to rebuild and rest, a troubled German Corporal began to sow the seeds of distrust and hatred.
The Selection
1. 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.
The Transport
1. FranceThe body lay in State for several hours watched over by a guard of honor composed of French and American Soldiers while the people of Chalons reverently paid their respects and left offerings of flowers and other tributes.
After brief official ceremonies by the city of Chalons, the casket was placed on a flag-draped gun carriage and escorted by American and French troops to the railroad station where is was placed aboard the funeral car in a special train for the journey to Le Harve. Upon arrival at Le Havre the train was met by French officials, troops and citizens of Le Havre who had gathered that they too might pay homage to America's Unknown Soldier. Accompanied by many floral tributes and escorted by French and American troops, the solemn procession moved through the city of Le Havre to the pier where the American Cruiser USS OLYMPIA, Admiral Dewey's flagship at the battle of Manila Bay, awaited with her flags at half mast to receive the precious cargo which she was to bring to home.
Here, with ceremonies befitting the solemn occasion, the casket was turned over to the United States Navy and placed on the flower decked stern of the cruiser for the long journey to America. Slowly and silently the USS OLYMPIA moved from the pier and with a salute of seventeen guns from the French destroyer, to which she promptly responded, the journey of the Unknown Soldier to his homeland began.
United StatesOn November 9, 1921, at 4 :00 P.M., the USS OLYMPIA reached the Navy Yard at Washington, D. C., where the flag-draped casket was solemnly delivered by the Navy to the Army, represented by the Commanding General of the District of Washington, and escorted to the Rotunda of the Capitol. Here upon the same catafalque that had similarly held the remains of three slain Presidents, the body lay in State under a Joint Guard of Honor.
All during the next day thousands of patriotic individuals, including highest officials of the Government, members of the Diplomatic Corps and private citizens, passed before the casket to pay homage to the Unknown Soldier who symbolized all our Unknown and the purpose for which they died.
The Ceremonies
1. 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.
After the ceremonies were completed, a simple marble crypt was placed over the Unknown Soldier. This base remained as such, until the decision to build an elaborate sarcophagus was made. The decision came about after too many people had to be asked NOT to have their lunch on the Unknown Soldiers grave.
The Tomb as you see it today, was designed by Lorimer Rich and sculpted by Thomas H. Jones. The overall cost to construct the sarcophagus, entirely out of White Yule Marble from Colorado, was $48,000. It took over a year to complete, and was unveiled on 9 April 1931.
The Tomb is broken into different parts, each weighing in at very heavy weights. The entire Tomb, minus the crypts, weighs 79 tons, and has 7 pieces:
Sub-Base....15 tons, 4 pieces
Base........16 tons, 1 piece
Dye.........36 tons, 1 piece
Cap.........12 tons, 1 piece
On the North and South faces of the Tomb, you can see a total of 6 inverted wreaths. Each of these wreaths have a certain number of leaves and berries, and if you ask a Tomb Guard he will rattle off the numbers. The wreaths are inverted to represent mourning, as well as the six major battle campaigns of World War I:
Ardennes
Belleau Wood
Chateau-Thierry
Meusse-Argonne
Oisiu-Eiseu
Somme
On the East face of the Tomb you will find three figures, carved into the marble. This is the face most visitors to the Tomb do not see. The three figures, from left to right, represent Peace, Victory and Valor.
Peace (on the left) is holding a dove in her left hand, while holding the right hand of Victory.
Valor (on the right) is holding a broken sword in his hands and is facing Victory.
Victory (in the middle) is holding the hand of Peace and extending an olive branch towards Valor. This symbolized the devotion and sacrifice that went with courage to make the cause of righteousness triumphant.
As with any large marble memorial, there eventually flaws will develop as the marble settles. After the 12 ton cap was put in place a natural crack developed around the entire Tomb, about 3 feet off the base. On one wreath, the tip of a leaf was broken off.
On the West face of the Tomb, which in on the plaza and faces the Memorial Amphitheater, there is an inscription: Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God