The U.S. government attempted to provide a service at the end of WWI that sounds like a wonderful way to thank fallen soldiers. The intent, I’m sure, was to show gratitude. But the execution of it quickly became quite grisly and I guarantee pricey. As far as I know, the service was only offered at the end of WWI and not repeated for any subsequent war. At least, not at the same level.

Let me start at the beginning though.

Seven years ago, I started doing cemetery tours at my local cemetery. It is a historical tour that visits graves of early town pioneers. I tell a short story that I have researched at each stop. My tour is about a mile long and takes about two hours. As my research has grown, so has the tour. A few years ago, I started doing a subset tour. This smaller version is filled with local veterans with markers in the cemetery. I do this particular presentation in May at the cemetery and again in November at the museum.

While researching my veteran tour I read about four different serviceman who died during WWI. All four were initially buried overseas and then their remains were returned to the states after the war. Each received large hometown funerals in our cemetery. One instance is interesting. Two is quite interesting. Three means there is something else going on besides just a family request. By the fourth, I did some investigating.

It only took one google search to find something.

According to a Washington Post article*, the U.S. government sent out 74,000 questionnaire cards when the war ended. The cards were sent to families of fallen soldiers and they asked the families if they wanted the remains of their soldier shipped home. By January 1920, 63,000 responded.

Between 1919 and 1922, 44,000 bodies were identified, located, and exhumed. As you can imagine, it was a gruesome task. The responsibility of digging up the remains largely fell to African-American troops. Unfortunately, not all requests could be fulfilled. There were also families that declined the offer. For them, the burial of their fallen soldier was essentially sacred ground that should not be disturbed.

I can’t say how all communities responded but I can tell you how this small community with a population between 5,000-6,000 nestled in the Rocky Mountains reacted. With apparent fervent patriotism. The funerals were each attended by hundreds of people. Veterans showed up to pay final respects to comrades even if they didn’t know the serviceman personally. People came and supported the families and paid tribute to the soldiers. Newspaper articles carried the details.

Such a moving tribute to thank those who gave all.

There is also another marker on my tour. The stone simply says, “Charles A. 1894-1918; Buried in France; World War 1914-1918.” I can’t find any story about this soldier which leaves me with unanswered questions. Was this one of those families that chose not to disturb the grave? Or was this one of those that couldn’t be fulfilled? If so, that almost seems like it would be worse. I wonder if it felt like losing him twice? Once when he died and again when, for whatever reason, his remains couldn’t come home.

I’m sure this large scale project started in goodness. “Bring the boys home!” But the devil quickly showed himself in the details. Digging up war-torn remains probably unearthed things that would have been better buried. In fact, the government included a warning to the families to not open the casket. It would be disturbing to see the extent of the wounds suffered such as missing limbs or the such. I feel for those who were obligated to do the task of retrieving the remains and verifying they were correct.

Obviously, I did not live through this so I can’t really judge the outcome. I can only imagine it would be tough not having the final closure of a funeral for a loved one. I can see the desire to bring home a loved one. On the flip side, it would be an arduous promise to locate the soldier and equally difficult in getting the remains sent home. I’m thankful this experience is something I only have to read about.

* “After World War I, U.S. families were asked if they wanted their dead brought home. Forty thousand said yes.” Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post, May 30,2021.