The Gold Star Pilgrimage

Mrs. Hinckley is Second Woman From Left, Second Row The Gold Star Pilgrimage AS one of the sad results of the Great War the bodies of 36,151 American heroes lie in Europe. Of this number 32,201 are buried in European cemeteries, 3,950 lie undiscovered in the fields and forests of France. Of the men buried in cemeteries 104 are from Utah. By an Act of Congress passed March 2, 1929, an appropriation was made to send, during the sum- mer months of the years 1930-33, the mothers and widows of Amer- ican soldiers buried over seas, on a pilgrimage to European cemeteries. Consequently since May, 1930, groups of women have gone at frequent intervals, so that during this season 3,971 Gold Star wo- men will have crossed the ocean as guests of the United States gov- ernment on this historic pilgrim- age. All expenses are borne by the government, and on land and on sea only first class accommo- dations have been enjoyed. By ADA B. HINCKLEY '"THE first women to go from 1 Utah were Mrs. Ella B. Ridges and Mrs. Viola V. Madsen. The second group, the largest sent from Utah during the season, left Salt Lake July 1 8 and was made up of the following fifteen women, twelve of whom occupied one car of the Union Pacific System: Mrs. Euphemia Barlow, Mrs. James Blundell, Mrs. Mary A. Brandley, Mrs. Laura C. Draper, Mrs. Bry- ant S. Hinckley, Mrs. Beulah W. Hinckley, Mrs. Susan D. Humph- ries, Mrs. Florence W. Hanning, Mrs. Elizabeth A. Rehke of Salt Lake, Mrs. C. M. Rowley of Logan, Mrs. Harriet S. Sadler of Ogden, Mrs. Mary A. Barries of Grantsville and Mrs. Emma Hiatt of Enterprise. At Chicago this special car was switched to the Erie train and taken straight through to New York, thus avoiding the incon- venience and discomfort of chang- ing trains. This shows the con- sideration that was given to these women. The ride between Salt Lake and New York was not the most delightful owing to the in- tense heat prevailing over the con- tinent at that time; but much of the unpleasantness was forgotten in the associations on the train. These were women who had seen sorrow and gone through the trib- ulations of a great War, but time had healed their hearts and they had emerged from these hard ex- periences free from bitterness, cher- ishing only the hallowed memory of their dead. TTPON arrival in New York we ^ were taken to the Governor Clinton Hotel, one of the best in the city, and were there joined by many other Gold Star women

74 The Improvement Era for December, 1930 from all parts of the United States. We remained over night in New York and at 10:00 o'clock the following morning were taken by bus to the pier at Hoboken, N. J., where we embarked on the S. S. George Washington. During the hour before sailing a military band, sta- tioned at the docks, played such popular war-time songs as "Over T h e r e," "Pack up Your Troubles," "Tip- perary," "Just Be- fore the Battle, Mother," etc., very appropriate for at- mosphere but rather difficult to listen to on this particular occasion without shedding tears. At 12:00 o'clock, how- ever, with smiling faces and flying colors, two hundred' and forty-five Gold Star women, designated as Party M, set sail. A S previously the accommoda- tions were first class and every- thing was done to make all the women feel comfortable and at home. An army captain and a lieutenant had charge of the group on the ship, while a hostess and a trained nurse gave special attention to the physical needs of the wo- men. Programs were provided for evening entertainment and the mothers enjoyed watching the other guests on the boat dance. After sailing eight days on a calm and delightful sea we an- chored, on the afternoon of July 30 in the harbor of Cherbourg. France. There we remained until morning, when a tender, with an army captain and a nurse on board, took us ashore, where we were met by other officers who took us by train to Paris. HTHE ride from Cherbourg to ^ Paris ran through a very beau- tiful farming region where every foot of ground seemed to be util- ized. The absence of fences was conspicuous; low, green hedges sep- arating the different pieces of acre- age. Little villages of tile-roofed houses nestled at the foot of wood- ed hills and the fresh green of the grass and trees gave evidence of an abundance of rainfall during the season. Upon arrival in Paris the group was segregated into smaller units according to the cemeteries to be visited and were assigned to differ- ent hotels. In the party to which we were assigned were twenty-five women, all of whom were to visit the Suresnes cemetery, just outside French Peasant (90 Years Old) of Paris. The largest group was made up of one hundred sixteen women who were to visit the Ro- magne cemetery at Verdun. HPHE hotel D'lena, where our group remained during our two weeks- stay in Paris, is typi- cally French — spacious rooms elab- orately but tastefully furnished, a quaint and beautiful place. They had the French lifts or elevators. One never rode in them without being reminded of this description by Mark Twain. "When I was last in Paris, three years ago, they were using there what they thought was a lift. It held two persons and traveled at such a low gait that a spectator could not tell which way it was going. If the passengers were going to the sixth floor they took along something to eat; at night, bedding. Old peo- ple did not use it; except such as were on their way to the good place, anyhow. Often people that had been lost for days were found in those 'lifts, jogging along, jogging along, frequently still alive. "The French took great pride in their ostensible lift and called it by a grand name — ascenseur. Any hotel that had a lift did not keep it secret but advertised it in immense letters, It y a vue ascenseur, with three exclamation points after it." 'T'HE government maintains a corps of army officers and trained nurses in Paris, with Col. Ellis in charge, who conduct the different groups to the cemeteries and other points of interest in France. An army captain and a nurse are assigned to each group, the nurse remaining at the hotel with the women, where she renders helpful assistance at all times. The programs are well arranged and most efficiently executed. The fourteen days in France are spent in visiting the cemeteries and sight seeing, leaving the evenings free for rest or whatever recreation the women desire. HHHE morning fol- lowing our ar- rival in Paris we all participated in the ceremony of placing a wreath on the tomb of the un- known soldier of France. We were taken by bus to the Arc D'Triumphe beneath which lies buried this un- known soldier of the World War. The American officers and General Fracque of the French Army stood at attention while Mrs. Saboe of Minnesota, who lost two sons in the War, placed on the tomb a huge wreath of laurel with a small spray of lilies attached — a gift of the American govern- ment. This shrine is visited daily by hundreds of tourists and is never without fresh flowers. At the head of the tomb a small flame, called everlasting fire, is kept con- stantly burning. After the ceremony we went to a delightful tea house where we were addressed by Col. Ellis, Am- bassador Edge, General Pershing, General Fracque of the French Army, a Catholic priest and the pastor of the American Trinity Church of Paris. These men all spoke words of consolation and praise, emphasizing the fact that the Gold Star Pilgrimage had done much to cement the bond of friendship between France and America, ""THE following morning we made visits to the cemeteries. Our particular group visited the Sures- nes cemetery, about five miles from Paris, where 1,400 Americans lie buried, eight of whom are from Utah. This burial ground, the smallest of the eight European cemeteries owned by America, lies on a gentle slope, backed by a wooded hill, on the summit of which stands an old French fort. There are no mounds but row upon row of snow white marble

The Improvement Era for December, 1930 75 German Lookout Part of old church. Very important observation point row Wilson being among the f^UR stay in France was most signers. ^ pleasant but after a rather The French point with pride to strenuous two weeks' program ev- crosses, standing with military erectness and precision and con- taining the name, the rank, the division of the soldier and the state from which he came. In this cemetery lie seven unknown sol- diers, each cross bearing the fol- lowing inscription: "Here tests in honored glory An American Soldier Known but to Cod." A LL the burial grounds are beau- ^^ tifully landscaped and well cared for. Hardwood trees planted among the graves and beautiful flowers and shrubbery along the borders of the cemetery make a beautiful park. A hostess house where visitors may rest occupies a convenient place and a small chapel is being erected in each ceme- tery. Only peace abides here and one leaves the place with the sat- isfied feeling that it is well to let the soldier dead lie here undis- turbed. TN addition to being taken to the cemeteries, almost every day we werei taken to see the principal points of interest in and about Paris. One needs to spend much time in these places but only a glimpse and an impression can be had in a hurried visit. The Louvre, Napoleon's Tomb, Josephine's Chateau, Fontainbleau, Versailles and Notre Dame were among the places visited. France has been a bloody battle field from the be- ginning but she has somehow man- aged to preserve much of her treasure. Versailles, with its beau- tiful gardens and fountains, is a picting the history of France, but we remained over night. The fol scene of beauty long to be re- one is impressed with (the idea lowing day the two hundred and membered. It was here that the that Paris is one big display of forty-four Gold Star women sep- treaty of peace was signed in 1919 monuments to military heroes and arated, taking trains to their homes and we were privileged to see the military victories. Cannot peace in different parts of the United table on which this historic docu- be made to appear greater than States. war? this and that statue, to the mar- velous paintings and tapestries de- JL HE author of this article, Mrs. Ada B. Hinckley, wife of President Bryant S. Hinckley of the Liberty stake, Was critically ill when this was written, after her return from the Gold Star Pilgrimage. Later she went to Calif/ornia with the hope that her health would be re- stored, but it was not to be. She passed away in Los Angeles on Nov. 10. Mrs. Hinckley was a talented woman, a devoted wife and mother, and one of the swejtest spirits it has ever been our good fortune to know. May the comforting in- fluence of God's holy spirit hover about the bereaved husband and children. eryone was happy to make the return trip to Cherbourg and then embark on the S. S. Republic for our homeward voyage. We left Paris August 3 expect- ing to spend ten days on the water. Our captain and lieutenant who had been given a leave while we were in France resumed their duties and once more took charge of the group. Two hundred and forty- four returned, one mother remain- ing in Paris a short time longer because of illness. HTHE weather being in our favor we anchored in Hoboken a day earlier than expected and were taken to the Hotel McAlpin where ment was signed, President Wood- : ■■■: .''.:... jjMgar jam '*" : Ml MEUSE ARGONNE. 14,189 AMERICAN DEAD. 400 UNKNOWN SOLDIERS Bodies still being exhumed in the forest and buried in the cemetery Our government has always honored its veterans in a generous and grateful way, and cared for the widows and orphans of those who gave the last full measure of de- votion to the flag, in a manner well becoming a great and benef- icent people. This pilgrimage was in keeping with that spirit. There was something very satisfy- ing and beautiful about it. The tenderness and care given to the mortal remains of those who were buried "over there" has left for- ever a sanctity and peace in the souls of those who have been per- mitted to visit the sacred soil where their sons and husbands sleep.