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"Louisville's Most Historic Inn" |
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INDIANAPOLIS STAR June 3, 1913 page5, column 3
SAYS ABSENCE OF MONUMENT AT GRAVE OF GENERAL LAWTON IS "BURNING SHAME"
WASHINGTON, June 2 -- Prompted by the shame which he declares every patriotic American ought to feel over the neglected condition of the grave of Gen. Henry W. Lawton, the famous Indiana soldier, at Arlington National Cemetery, Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota is preparing and will introduce a bill appropriating $3,000 to construct a suitable monument over Gen. Lawton's remains.This action by the Minnesota senator is the sequel of a visit made by Senator Nelson at Arlington on Decoration Day, when he paused at the grave of Lawton and was invited by some Indianians assembled there to make a few remarks. The senator delivered an impromptu eulogy of Lawton which was a gem. In a statement today Senator Nelson said:
"I was very much surprised to find that there was no tombstone or memorial over the grave of Gen. Lawton. He was one of the greatest heroes of the Spanish-American and Philippine wars and was killed in the front line of battle in the very hour of victory. I consider it nothing less than a burning shame that his services and sacrifices have never been recognized by the erection of a suitable monument."
Senator Nelson is hopeful that he will be able to get his bill through Congress without any great difficulty. There is now no stone of any kind at the Lawton grave except the simple marker which the government erects at the grave of every soldier, however humble. All around it are handsome shafts dedicated to the nation's great fighting men. Not far away lies buried Gen. Phil Sheridan, at whose grave is a pretentious monument. Another grave near by is that of Walter Q. Gresham, which is marked by a large and imposing monument.
Gen. Lawton apprehended that he would be killed in battle, and, according to Gen. Clarence Edwards, who was his chief of staff, he particularly admonished Mrs. Lawton that she would need all the funds that would come to her in the care and education of their children, and that under no circumstances if he should be slain, should she go to the expense of building a monument to him. Mrs. Lawton, against her own wishes perhaps, has adhered to this request.
At one time the Indiana Legislature considered providing a monument, but never took the step. At still another time, the soldiers who had fought with Lawton in his various campaigns under took an ambitious scheme of raising $75,000 to build a heroic monument at his grave, but that project fell through because as a rule, soldiers are poor and do not have money to contribute for even such testimonials of affection.
With Thanks to Jean Lawton Reagan for finding and sending this article
The General Lawton, Spanish-American War Photo Album
