dignitaries at the event included dr. anita newcomb mcgee (who presided over the ceremony); m. emmett urell, colonel, usa (ret.), past commander of the grand army of the republic; dr. clifford cox, commander, spanish–american war veterans; mrs. emily n.r. mcclean, president, daughters of the american revolution; surviving civil war nurses from washington, d.c. (all members of the national association of army nurses of the civil war); colonel morton and several u.s. army and u.s. navy officers; and a representative from the embassy of japan. a marquee was erected near the memorial site to shelter them.