Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-29
WELCOME PROGRAM
FOR BOYS IN GRAY
Address by President Wilson
One Feature of Confederate
Veterans Reunion in June.
BIG GATHERING EXPECTED

Patriotic pictures in gray of the sol
diers of past century. in striking con-
trast with the young volunteers of the
twentieth century rallying to the col
ors in the present war, will be staged
in this city at the reunion of the United
Confederate Veterans. the week begin
ming June 4. In the pictures will be
much of pathos and of patriotism. They
will illustrate completely reunited
country preparing for any eventually
that may come.
1t is the opinion of Col. Robert \.
Harper, chairman of the reunion com
mittee, that the presence in Washing
ton at this critical time of the grim old
fighters of Lee and Stonewall jackson
will serve as stimulus to the youth
of this generation. who by that time
will be in active training for participa-
ton in the great world war. To make
the pictures more effective 1t is pro-
posed to have the gray-clad legions
headed in their march along Pennsyi.
yania avenue by the famous Stonewall
Jackson brass band of stanton. Va.
with the entire corps OF cadets from
the Virginia Military Institute as an es-
corting division.
To Welcome June-Time Guests.
Semi-southern in character and
geography, Washington will welcome
its June-time guests from Dixie with It's
wonted hospitality. Arrangements Tor
the event are being made expeditiousiy
BY large committee of representative
citizens Cotemporaneous with this
gathering OF the surviving units OF tne
once great southern armies VIII De the
annual sessions of the Sons or CohIeo-
nf ha =
federacy and the Confederated southern
Memorial Association.
Never before have these sons and
daughters of Dixie held their yearly
conventions outside the geograpnicai
limits of the late Confederate states
In doing SO this year they have selected
the nations capital to set the prece-
dent The men who battled in the
legions of Lee, jackson ana other
southern leaders had in mind. IL is sald,
when they made this selection the Wen
known hospitality of our people and
the fame of Washington as the conNeh-
ton city of America They mad read OF
the splendid entertainment accorded
the bows in blue by our citizens at the
time of the forty-ninth encampment or
the Grand Army of the Republic THESE
accounts describing the grand review
and other features OF that great occa-
sion thrilled their southern hearts, and
when they were invited by the citizens
of our fair municipality to meet mere
the invitation was accepted with glad
acclaim.
Promise of Big Gathering.
From indications the reunion OF the
Confederate veterans will be the great
est ever held, both as to attendance and
interest. The war Congress in session.
the military activity of the War and
NAVY departments combined with the
features of the reunion. which include
the picturesque camp on the plaza of
the Union station. the parade Of the
thin gray line Of aging veterans. the
review of the marching columns by
President Wilson. the Confederate mem
orial service at Arlington, June s; the
social functions for which the sons and
daughters of the south are noted, and
other events of the reunion week Will
doubtless serve to attract a large num-
Der of visitors from all sections of the
country.
Properly to stage this important gath
ering of the venerable veterans of
the south. the reunion committee APP
peals to the citizenry of Washington to
be liberal. both in its contributions OF
cash, courtesy and hospitality.
Among the organizations that will
cadets from the Blacksburg College
Va. the Confederate Grays OF Fort
Worth, Tex, and noted military COM
panies from Richmond. Charleston, At
lanta and other southern cities.