Americans Buried Far From Their Native Soil

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 126, 30 May 1944, Page 6

Americans Buried Far From Their Native Soil

HONOURED DEAD

SIMPLE TRIBUTE PAI

MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE

Representatives of the United Nations gathered to-day about a "small corner of a foreign field" that shall be forever . . . America. It was the simple tribute of them all to the fallen of the United States— a tribute that was expressed here about the graves of those who rest now in the American forces section of Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland. Throughout the world to-day similar services are being held, for this, Memorial or Decorations Day, is regarded by Americans in the same way that New Zealand upholds Anzac Day. A Larger Synfbolism There was thus, in this ceremony, with its grouping of American servicemen and servicewomen, and its Allied representation, its beautiful floral tributes, its salutes—with hand, gun and trumpet—a larger symbolism. Old Glory was here waving not as the emblem of a country's might, a stirring inspiration to those whose nationality, soil and ideals it represents, but as something tender and enfolding—a proud nation in the semblance of a mother. And to those who have other flags, as to those who own this one as theirs, there was a picture and a symbolism here that exceeded the mere ceremonial.

It was fitting that, along with

officers and men, and women, too, of the United States Forces, there came in tribute to this site honour-

ing groups from each of the New Zealand services; that the GovernorGeneral, Sir Cyril Newall, should lay the first wreath at the foot of the flagpole, which is the central feature of the sloping green sward, with its beautiful surroundings of trees and rolling country, and its collection of small wooden crosses, and that he should be followed by a Minister of the New Zealand Government, Mr. Mason, and diplomatic representatives of other United Nations.

Comradeship of Death

The same theme found some expression in the words of Chaplain McNulty, of the U.S. Army base hospital, when he spoke of the meaning of the ceremony. "Perhaps in death more so than in anything else mankind as a whole is united. Here we meet on familiar and common ground, for, regardless of religion, race, colour, nationality, we, too, must meet the same fate of these honoured dead. Were it possible to pass death to another, the bond of fraternal love and charity Would exist no longer." 1 He spoke then of similar ceremonies being conducted wherever U.S. troops were to be found. "Prom the bleak cold of Alaska to the scorching lands of the Middle East; across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to far distant lands tribute is paid to those persons, unknown to many of us, who, we pray and hope, have not died in vain. . . . By bringing death closer, war makes life plainer; and what could be plainer than Lincoln's simple words of memorial, ' That it is for us, the living, to make sure that they who die shall not have died in vain.'"

After speaking of the comfort that such ceremonials brought to the hearts of parents and relatives of those who had fallen, Chaplain McNulty went on: "Some of you here to-day may have had someone killed in this war, and perhaps that loved one is buried in some foreign land, and decently. You can judge from what you see here about you that his final resting place will be a place of honour and respect; and that today, wherever that place may be, he is being honoured by comrade and friend alike in just such a fitting expression of love as has been exemplified here."

Responsibility of the Living

I In similar fashion the president of the Auckland Returned Services Association, Mr. A. P. Postlewaite, spoke of the sacrifice these men had made along with the men of all the United Nations, and of the responsibility that their death threw on the shoulders of the living to carry on their work, to make good their dream of a better world. He expressed the hope that service personnel of the United States would join the Legion in America when they were discharged so that it might be a force in shaping the destinies of that country. He hoped that to-day was the beginning of a spirit of co-opera-tion between the returned services organisations of both countries.

"I should like to say to the mothers and fathers and relatives of the deceased members of the American forces who are buried here," said Mr. Postlewaite, "that they lie alongside the dead from New Zealand and all parts of the British Empire. They lie in hallowed ground and their graves will be tended, the same as our own."

The invocation was recited -by Lieutenant-Commander E. L. Pennington, chaplain of a U.S. Navy hospital in this area, and the ceremony was concluded with the firing of three volleys by a guard of honour and the sounding of the Last Post.