“For her my tears shall fall; For her my prayers ascend; To her my cares and toils be given; Till toils and cares shall end.” Soldiers Sang at Their General’s Funeral The great military leader who had a premonition that he would die in battle came to his death as the result of an accident sustained soon after the close of World War II. Generals and colonels were the pall bearers of General George S. Patton, Jr., when he was laid to rest on Christmas eve, 1945, in the American Military Cemetery near Luxembourg. Six hundred men who had served under General Patton in combat formed an honor guard; and his grave “was no different from six thousand others which marked the resting-place of soldiers from his own beloved Third Army.” Funeral services were held in Christ Church, Heidelberg, Germany, on December 23rd, and those were extensively reported for the Associated Press. Two army chaplains were in charge. Mrs. Patton, who sat in the front of the church, “turned her head to look at the choir loft when a soldier choir of thirty-six voices” began to sing the first hymn: “The strife is o’er, the battle done; The victory of life is won; The song of triumph has begun. Alleluia!” “This is one of those Easter hymns which is included in almost every hymnal, but which is actually used much less than it deserves,” remarks Dr. Charles A. Boyd. Tersely he adds: “It is a historic treasure, one of those Latin hymns so old that nobody knows the exact age.” When the choral group from the Seventh Army began to sing: “The Son of God goes forth to war, A kingly crown to gain; His blood-red banner streams afar: Who follows in His train?” the khaki-clad officers and men who filled Christ Church, where the Episcopal service was conducted, joined in singing the familiar hymn. Onward to its concluding lines they sang with mighty voice: “A glorious band, the chosen few On whom the Spirit came, Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew, And mocked the cross and flame; They climbed the steep ascent of heaven Through peril, toil, and pain: O God, to us may grace be given To follow in their train!” The comment of Dr. Charles S. Robinson concerning this hymn merits consideration: “This is one of Bishop Reginald Heber’s finest lyrics, ranking in the estimation of many with that anthem-like composition, ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.’” The two hymns mentioned were sung at the request of Mrs. Patton, who stated that these were the two hymns which her husband most loved.