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Historical Events

The Unknown Soldier Arrives at the Navy Yard in 1921

A colorized photograph shows the transfer from USS Olympia before the Unknown Soldier was taken to the Capitol.

Posted 1 min read
Unknown Soldier from World War I being taken from the USS Olympia at the Washington Navy Yard and transported to the US Capitol to lay in state (DC Public Commons)
Unknown Soldier from World War I being taken from the USS Olympia at the Washington Navy Yard and transported to the US Capitol to lay in state (DC Public Commons)

Here’s a haunting and solemn colorized photo from 1921, much like the Lincoln photo I posted a while back. The Unknown Soldier from World War I had just arrived by ship at the Washington Navy Yard.

Unknown Soldier from World War I being taken from the USS Olympia at the Washington Navy Yard and transported to the Capitol to lay in state (DC Public Library Commons)

The body was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on November 11th, 1921. Both former President Woodrow Wilson and current President Harding were present at the ceremony (watch video of it here).

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Filed underHistorical Events

Topics1920s · Arlington National Cemetery · Military · Navy Yard · World War I

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