On October 24, 1921, a deeply symbolic moment in American and military history took place when an unknown American soldier from World War I was selected for burial in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. “The Unknown Soldier” would come to represent all unidentified U.S. servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The procedure took place in Chalons-sur-Marne, France, where four sets of remains of U.S. soldiers killed in major WWI battles — the Aisne-Marne, Somme, Meuse-Argonne, and Saint-Mihiel sectors — were gathered. Each body was unknown: no name, rank, organization, or date of death could be determined. A U.S. Army sergeant, Edward Younger, selected the one casket that would represent them all. As the official account states, he “circled the caskets three times, then silently placed the flowers on the third casket from the left, faced the body, stood at attention and saluted.”
From France, the selected casket was transported via Paris and Le Havre aboard the cruiser USS Olympia for the journey to the United States. Once back on U.S. soil, the Unknown Soldier was interred at Arlington National Cemetery under the inscription: “An Unknown American who gave his life in the World War.”
This event was more than a military funeral; it was a historic act of recognition and remembrance. The First World War had seen tremendous casualties, including many whose identities were lost in the chaos of trench warfare and massive offensives. By dedicating and honoring an unknown soldier, the U.S. government and the American people acknowledged the collective sacrifice of countless service members whose names would remain unknown.
Beyond commemoration, the selection of the Unknown Soldier established a precedent: it underscored the notion that every serviceman and woman has dignity and deserves remembrance—even when identity is lost. The burial and tomb became a focal point for national mourning, memory, and military honor, inviting reflection on the human cost of war and the debt owed by those who survive.
In the broader context, this event laid the groundwork for Arlington’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to become a sacred site in American public memory. It reinforced how nations remember war, how the fallen are honored, and how anonymity can itself become a powerful symbol. On October 24, 1921, that symbolism was born, quietly but with profound resonance.
Reverence is the way to think about this matter of those unknown who did what they believed in doing to defend all that is right. To be honored in the proper way. Good to contemplate this matter as it is respectful of life and Freedom.
known but to god
wondrous smells of freshly cut grass permeate across the land
inspiring ditties by cohan, sousa, crack a nation’s patriot bands
stripes and stars proudly unfurl, whip in an eerie spring breeze
children, fathers cheer farewell, mothers cry along main streets
thousands of boys answer the call, eagerly march into the strife
from kansas to georgia, oregon to maine, for freedom they fight
surging amidst psalms of glory, beguiling winds wooing doom
howling trains steaming east, to an expeditionary force in bloom
young soldiers like i, a lost generation from cities, farms, towns
to crush central tyrannies they cry, war to end all wars rages on
boarding ships, europe we sail, slicing the sea crashing her hull
belgian fields stained red, grisly wails, thundering german guns
lebels spew death, springfields and mausers blast, save me lord
ghastly explosions, muddy trench, the entombing horrors of war
over the top, scrambling we roar, cannons fire to a dawning sun
bloody battles of belleau wood, chateau-thierry, meuse-argonne
a strange wind numbs my cheeks, visions of home, somber hush
dreams slowly fade from my eyes, eternity has come, die i must
rifle drops, stumbling i fall, stunned stare in the muck, duty done
serene peace shrouds the fury, alone, cold, wonder do i, who won
a white cross in a french field, beneath tender grass, unknown, i lie
strangers come in search of sons, weary villagers stare, hope, sigh
armistice signed, guns silent, memories warm the soil of my grave
three years pass, spring chills, wintry howls, sullen summer rains
suddenly picks scrape and rip, my cries heard, his mercy has come
saved from a lonesome pit, american soldiers keep watch, fall, ‘21
in a hall i lie as hymns blare and glory waves, chalons-sur-marne
three men lay near, warriors without name exhumed from graves
dead plucked from st. mihiel, aisne-marne, meuse-argonne, somme
sergeant circles, misty eyed, halting his pace, selects one for home
from the dark i listen, on my box white roses abloom he softly lays
i, an unknown, who gave life for country, liberty, democracy ways
three unchosen remain, interred in fresh tombs of meuse-argonne
yet i, blessed by thee, shall sail across the sea, to america at dawn
old glory drapes my box, honors fate, soothes my simmering fright
vigilant troops keep watch, guard me through the cold french night
amid the morning sun, my voyage begun, upon an old wagon i lie
french soldiers shepherd me to a puffing train, village mothers sigh
onto paris i steam along rails, an engine thundering a glorious grey
dutiful guards calm my night, iron clacks dulled by a rainy serenade
chugging to le havre, clickety click, october 25, olympia awaits
impassioned villagers compelled to be near, shed tears at my fate
french officials and patriot men gaze at a casket, to me, the unknown
shuffling soldiers, stoic eyes, step me to an oaken cart, i lying alone
babushkas peer as children play, warm my heart with petals abloom
america’s anthem bellows esteem, honor to a lone soldier entombed
reverent crowd, wondrous words, kindness spewed upon me this day
cold in a box i lay, listening hushed, far from the quiet fields of fray
a chopin tune, a somber melody, a corps of marines presenting arms
upon my coffin french chevalier is laid, croix de la legion d’honneur
holding me, bearers stride to olympia’s stern, flowery tributes adorn
harbor fades, to home sail i as mighty guns boom fiery howls of war
potomac greets in a rainy chill, washington navy yard, november 9
sailors and generals salute, notables abound, a dutiful band chimes
marines grasp and bugler blares, slowly we descend a lonely plank
sullen eyes gaze in a showery haze, barrels of honor blast the ranks
from where did he come, scores wonder, who, they solemnly ask
in a trickling grey, damp boards i lie, steady colts ready for the task
hooves clack, my wagon creaks, onward christian soldiers is tolled
hundreds stare, troops along the road, to capitol’s stony steps i roll
row after row silently watch, six valiant soldiers grasp my casket
steady up stones to rotunda’s heart, shuffle to lincoln’s catafalque
honor guard four, 13th engineers, stoic in corners, hushed, they peer
red, white and blue drapes my box, a hallowed hall, whispers i hear
president harding confers a nation’s shield, majestic wings so true
first lady bestows a ribbon of valor upon me, silky sash, white, blue
a profound pride wafts the air, a generation’s courage sensed in me
scores surge to be near, remember the dead, tame shattered dreams
as if compelled by a mystic spell, they come, to be close, sigh, pray
heads bow and misty eyes reflect, some solemnly reach, others gaze
a chilling rain tumbles the stones, tenderness for hours, vigil sublime
loss of so many, country mourns, could this unknown soldier be mine
horrors of war three years past, a tranquil dawn, 11 november, 1921
eight brothers in arms, army, navy, marines, grip tight, hold as one
a solemn hymn flits the mist, slowly we descend rows of wet stones
lone caisson waits for me, a crisp fall morn, my final journey home
sullen boots scrape pennsylvania’s bricks, drums rap a cadence beat
clacking hooves clump the avenue, caisson wheels crunch and creak
medals of honor show me the way, valor oozing the brave who gave
strangers mourn, hundreds surge, humbled escorting me to my grave
they watch and stare in an autumn mist, dreary eyes wondering why
rifles snap and blast along the arlington road, billow to a sighing sky
amphitheater steps, marble and brick, angels bless with falling tears
a nation’s song soothes sacred stones, chaplains pray, a crowd nears
women, men pay homage to sons, final respects to the dead unfold
bugler’s hymn brushes the hills, moment of silence for an unknown
assuaging oratories serenade, medallion of gallantry placed upon me
serene psalms imbue the morn, tributes adorn, nearer my god to thee
a cold pit beneath marble waits, soldiers console with a lonely tune
near scores of brave souls, my final resting place, forever entombed
into my crypt i descend, darken gloom, french soil matting my grave
twenty-one guns blast, taps rap, three salvos roar into the misty grey
white roses caress my box, peace under stone, distant battles surreal
my mind wanders across the sea, to three, to thousands lying in fields
years pass, wreaths placed at my tomb, generations wonder, carry on
it is me i cry, no one hears, they bow, pray, a soldier known but to god
the journey home of an unknown soldier of the great war,
eternally entombed, arlington national cemetery,
armistice day, 1921
j. k. blakely
1/9/2020