The Washington herald., 1920-05-05
HOUSE GREETS
PRIZE PUPILS
Winners Of National Army
Essay Contest Acclaimed
By Members.
TO BE HoNoRED TO-DAY
Parade Will Precede Pres
entation Of Medals by
Secretary Baker.
TO BE HONoRED TO-DAY

Arising from their seats In the
Speakers gallery Of the House Of
Representatives. the three prize
winners Of the national army essay
contest. one boy and two girls,
were introduced to the members Of
Congress by Speaker Frederick II.
Gillett yesterday and greeted with
prolonged applause by the House
membership.
Donald L. Campbell, of Clinton,
Iowa. winner OF the first prize;
Miss Marjorie Sheets of Chilli
cothe, Missouri, winner Of the
second prize, and Miss Bette
Bowen Eason, OF Olive Branch,
Mississippi. third prize winner,
are the three who were ac-
corded an honor seldom bestowed
upon diplomats or men OF national
fame.
The last recognition of this sort
was given Sergeant York, ac-
claimed greatest hero of the world
war. but he was not formally in
troduced to Congress as was the
case of the three youthful COM
petitors for the prize essay.
In presenting the trio, Speaker
Gillett said, II know you will be
interested to know that the three
successful competitors for the
prize essay on What Are the Bene-
fits of an Enlistment in the United
States Army? are now in the
Speakers gallery"
He got no further. The entire
membership arose with one accord
and, turning in the direction of the
gallery, began to applaud. The
~
smiling in appreciation Of the re-
ception accorded them.
The prize winners were taken to
Speaker Gillett's office before going
to the gallery by the members of
Congress in whose districts they
reside.
Representative Harry E. Hull, OF
Williamsburg, Iowa. accompanied
the hrst prize winner, Donald
Campbell, while Representative
William w. Rucker, of Keytesville,
Mo, and Representative Hubert D.
Stephens, of Mississippi. escorted
the two girls to the Speakers Of
nee for an Introduction to Mr.. Gill
lett.
Then they were whirled from the
Capitol to carry out the program
arranged by the War Department.
and Walter Reed Come Back" in
cluding a visit to Mount Vernon.
Fort Myer. Arlington National Gem
etery, Walter Reed Hospital and
most Of the public buildings.
Today the awards will be pre-
sented by Secretary of War Baker
in the Central High School stadium
at o'clock. School will be "out"
for District children and they will
be given an opportunity to occupy
the 10000 seats in the stadium to
witness Ine ceremonies and. to see
the ones who won the prizes they
strove for.
Preceding the presentation cere-
monies will be a parade including
composite battalion from the
Twelfth and Seventeenth Infantry
from Camp Meade. two squadrons
of cavalry, field artillery and de-
tachments of the Engineers Corps
and Signal Corps.
Ono thousand high school cadets
and cadets from Gonzaga and st.
Johns colleges will be in the line
Of march, which will form on Frank
lin square at the corner of Thir-
teenth and X streets northwest at
2 o'clock and march up Thirteenth
street to the stadium.
The War Department will furnish
automobiles to carry the prize win
ners, together with their parents
who accompanied them on the trip.
A squadron of aeroplanes will fly
over the city during the parade.
Stephen f. Kramer. assistant
superintendent of schools, who has
busted himself with details of the
exercises for more than a week, has
announced that admission to the
stadium would be only by ticket.
All tickets have been distributed. A
few were sent to the War Depart
ment. The rest were handed out to
the 1000 Washington students who
competed in the contest, and to as
many others of the higher grades
as could be accommodated.
Students in the sixth, seventh and
eighth grades Of the public schools
will be released from school in sufii-
cient time to allow the children to
see the parade.