Evening star., 1920-06-15
FLAG DAY PAGEANT
VIEWED BY $4,000
Tribute Paid to Stars and
Stripes by Great Crowds
on Capitol Steps.

Tribute to the Stars and Stripes was
paid last night by 10000 persons who
gathered on the plaza at the east
front of the Capitol. The occasion was
the 143d anniversary of the birth OF
the American flag
The exercises. which were under the
auspices of the Potomac Department
G. A. R., were participated in by sew
singing. speechmaking and grand
historical pageant were a few OF the
features
secretary Daniels speaks.
Secretary Daniels. of the Navy De-
partment was the principal speaker.
Asserting the American flag must
be made the "vitalizing symbol OF
on American citizens to turn deai
ear to the selfish and provincial
pleas" which renounce the "altrulsm
that sent the American Army over
seas.
Americans had lacked vision and for-
gotten the ideals which made US IN
v;ncible in war; the promised bless,
ing of the conflict. a peace buttresstu
By mutual covenants between the al
lied and associated nations, had not
been realized.
of our own and the worlds need. the
sneaker continued. Let US on this DAY
lreconsecrate ourselves to the attainment
of peace and justice between all the ma
tions of the earth. Let us here hlgnly
resolve that the dead of this war shall
not have died in vain. but that from
their sacrifice shall come a new and
wider and holier service to humanity
Points Out Larger Meaning.
Col John McElroy, commander OF
the Department of the Potomac, and
chairman of the ceremonies. pointed
out the larger meaning of Flag day
observances, and sketched history
of the holiday.
EVERY generation of America has
been instantly and earnestly ready to
devote life. fortune and sacred honor
to the highest advancement of the
flag and all that it represents, said
Col. McElroy. The world has been
shaken by the tremendous battles for
it. The millions of brave men who
one of the notable groups of heaven.
When we know it is sheltering the
homeless and feeding the starving OF
devastated Belgium we say with
proud satisfaction: 1t is your flag and
my flag that is doing this. When we
ing food to starving Poland or
famished Austria, our hearts glow
with pride that it is our flag.
Some years ago the Grand Army
of the Republic and the Woman's Re
lief Corps instituted the observance
of Flag day as duty of patriotic edu-
cation to the rising generation and
the millions of immigrants. Through
fthese efforts the forty eight states
have. enacted laws compelling the fly
ing Of the nag from every school
house. The Grand Army of the Re-
| rnaah IN n a
forcement in the earnest cooperation
Of our comrades of the Spanish and
world wars. and our hearts rejoice
that their broad and mighty courage
we of the Grand Army began
Other speakers were Col. ]. A.
Drain of the American Legion. Com
mander Robert H. Wood Of the United
Spanish War Veterans and Mrs. Isabel
Worrell Bail. associate editor OF the
National Tribune.
Tableaux show Epoehs.
PrAcedihgsthe. speaking the pageant
was staged. More than 100 young
WOMEN. bearing tfTe7various state and
terrftorialrdags, together with women
Of the Woman's Relief Corps, formed
a procession that followed company
of .,Gonzaga College students dressed
In. continental uniforms.
Mrs. Elizabeth Buckles McElroy read
President Wilson's letter expressing
his regret at his inability to be pres
ent. For more than an hour the Com
munity Service Chorus, under the di-
rection of Mrs Marie Moore Forrest
and c. S. Wengerd, sang patriotic and
folk songs.
Mr.. Wengerd announced that a sill
yer loving cup offered by the Arthur
Jordan Piano Company to the unit OF
the Community Service Chorus that
attended rehearsals in largest mum.
bers had been awarded to Unit No. Z,
TIL financ~ division of the war De-
partment.
Mr.. Baker Talks Mt Fort Myer.
Secretary Baker of the War De-
partment was the principal speaker
at the flag day review held at Fort
Myer yesterday. Other addresses were
made by .6ov Westmoreland Davis
of Virginia. Representative f. Wall
ton Moore and Col. w. c. Rivers COM
mander of Fort Myer. Polo matches,
base ball games and a military re-
vi5w were held.
At Park View School yesterday,
Representative M. Clyde Kelly Of
Pennsylvania, delivered the Flag day
oration. George Russell. president of
the Park View Community Center,
presided 1t was decided to keep the
school flag flying by night as well as
by day, Illuminated by searchlights.