TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN
SOLDIER
The Quartermaster Review
September-October 1963
Short article on construction of the Tomb and selection of World War I Unknown
Soldier
Since Memorial Day, great interest has been expressed by the many inquiries
concerning the history of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. In 1958,
the Quartermaster Review published the story of the interesting measures taken in the
selection of the Unknown Soldier who died in World War I. That story bears repeating here.
In a future issue, The Review will add the history of the Unknowns of World War II and
Korea.
IN THE BEAUTIFUL Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on a hillside overlooking the
historic Potomac River is a Shrine that has become the mecca for not only all Americans
who visit Washington but many prominent dignitaries and persons from foreign lands. It is
the Tomb of America's Unknown Soldiers, symbolizing those of America who gave their lives
in World War I, World War II and Korea, in defense of the Nation's integrity, honor and
tranquility.
Following the custom inaugurated by other allied countries in World War I the Congress
on March 4, 1921, approved a Resolution providing for the burial in Arlington National
Cemetery Memorial Amphitheater on Armistice Day 1921 of an unknown and unidentified
American soldier of World War I. The Secretary of War delegated to the Quartermaster Corps
the duty of selecting the Unknown Soldier and accordingly the Quartermaster 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 from among them could be anonymously designated as the one for burial in
accordance with the provisions of the Resolution. 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 from among them to represent all the Unknown American Dead. This
ceremony though simple was most impressive. In view of his outstanding service, to
Sergeant Edward Younger, on duty with the American Forces in Germany, was given the honor
of making the final selection. On Monday morning, October 24, 1921, at 10:00 AM 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, Sergeant 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 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 and 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 "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 the Homeland. 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
"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.
On November 9, 1921, at 4: 00 PM, the "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 our Presidents, Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley, the body lay in State under a
guard of honor and composed of selected men of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. 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.
On the morning of November 11, 1921, Armistice Day, at 8:30 AM, the casket was removed
from the rotunda of the Capitol and escorted to the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington
National Cemetery under a military escort, with 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, wearers 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 Congressional 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.
At the conclusion of these ceremonies the remains, preceded by the clergy, the 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.
It was originally intended that the simple white marble Tomb placed over the grave of
The Unknown Soldier immediately after the interment should serve as a base for an
appropriate superstructure. Accordingly very shortly after the ceremonies on November 11,
1921, the question of selecting a suitable monument to complete the Tomb was given
consideration. It was not until July 3, 1926, however, that the Congress finally
authorized the completion of the Tomb and the expenditure of $50,000 therefore.
The Act referred to above provided that the Secretary of War secure competitive designs
according to such regulations as he may adopt to complete the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier.
The Act further provided that the accepted designs should be subject to the approval of
the Arlington Cemetery Commission, the American Battle Monuments Commission and the Fine
Arts Commission. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Secretary of War
prepared a program for the completion of the Tomb and invited architects of standing
reputation who were citizens of the United States to submit designs. Seventy-four designs
were submitted and, from among them, five were selected for further study.
The selected competitors were required to restudy their designs and prepare models of
plaster of paris. When these models were received the Jury of Award studied each one,
taking into consideration the surroundings of the Tomb, the Amphitheater in which it is
located and which serves as a background for it, and the final effect after the completed
monument was in place. After going into the matter most carefully and thoroughly, the Jury
finally recommended an anonymous design to be the winning one. When their decision had
been reached a sealed envelope accompanying the design was opened and it was found that
the winning design was the work of Thomas Hudson Jones, sculptor, and Lorimer Rich,
Architect, of New York City.
The design selected was in the form of a sarcophagus, simple but impressive, and most
appropriate for the purpose for which desired. The total height is 11 feet, the width is 8
feet at the base and 6 feet 8 inches at the top, and the length is 13 feet 11 inches at
the base and 12 feet 7 inches at the top. The severity of the design is relieved by the
Doric Pilasters in low relief at the corners and along the sides. The panel of the front,
facing the City of Washington and the Potomac, has carved upon the marble a composition of
three figures commemorative of the spirit of the Allies in the War. In the center of the
panel stands "Victory", with her palm branch to reward the devotion and
sacrifice that went with courage to make the cause of righteousness triumphant; on one
side a male figure symbolizes "Valor" and on the other stands "Peace."
Each of the sides is divided into three panels by Doric Pilasters, in each panel of which
is carved an inverted wreath. On the back appears the inscription "Here Rests In
Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God". This is the only inscription
appearing on the Tomb.
The marble is the finest and whitest of American marble--Yule, Colorado, marble, and
same as used in the Lincoln Memorial. The Tomb is made of only four pieces of marble--the
die, which is all in one piece and one of the largest ever quarried, weighing over 50
tons; the base; the sub-base, and the capstone.
An appropriation from Congress for the work was secured and on December 21, 1929, a
contract for completion of the Tomb itself was entered into.
