Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-06
PRIZES AWARDED
FOR ARMY ESSAYS

&C S'S''''s op's ''o"V'
| ed in Exercises at Gen.
trail High School.
Gust for writing a composition they
get all this" remarked an envious
Washington school boy in the Central
High School stadium yesterday after
noon. when Secretary of War Baker
presented awards to the three national
winners in the Army essay contest.
Just for writing a composition. he
muttered again in tones scarcely audi
BILE in the restless and boisterous
crowd of 10000 school children who
packed the large stadium and crowded
every point of vantage on the steps
and roof Of the National Capitals
most beautiful school building.
| And this boy. obviously one OF the
| IL ,O0O, 900 school children of the Unit
ed States who had been defeated by
the two young girls and boy who
then were bashfully receiving con-
CALCULATIONS from Secretary Baker:
high Army officers and members OF
Congress. was we'll Justified in feel
ing tho pangs OF envy. for probably
never before in tho history OF the
! country had three school children
been honored as were Donald l. Camp
bell Of Clinton. Iowa; Marjorie Sheeta
[ of Chillicothe, Ohio, and Bette Bowen
Eason Of Olive Branch. Miss. winner
| Of first, second and third prizes. re-
spectiyely. in the national essay con-
test.
! Parade and Exercises Iapresstve.
ut was gala. glorious day Tor
these three school children. which
never will be forgotten by them. ana
evidently was firmly impressed on the
Thousands Of Washington school pn-
nils who attended the presentation ex-
ercises and witnessed the parade
which preceded them. The three win
ners were feted and entertained cy
the Come Back during their stay In
Washington. . ma
high school cadets. Nhe visiting trio
lof children were escorted from
Franklin Park to Central High School
Stadium amid the cheers and applause
Of 10000 school children and thelr
march. After viewing the procession
from Army automobiles, the prize
winners were escorted to the grand
stand in the stadium by Samuel Com
pers and q party of Army omcers ana
Salvation Army lasstes.
Mr.. Baker Praises Winners.
In presenting the awards Secretary
Baker outlined briefly the value OF
the essay contest IN p ef the AMY I'm in
the world war and credited the three
winners with accomplishing great
things" The Secretary also palo
| tribute to the Army and declared tnae
| 1t is "the greatest educatlohai i'es'-
tuition on earth.
Baker. 'Ts the child Of affection and and
the pride Of the people at large. as
never before in the country's history.
The value Of the Army snoulo ;. DC
understood by the peopie. a. i ars..r+.
cd the medals to the winners 2 dozen
courier pigeons were released pear
inE MESA ges Of greeting to Gen. Bul-
lard, commanding the Eastern De-
parsmsnt At siSnei corps homins
pigeons, and were released at 3:4s
o'ciock. The War Department today
announced that they arrived last
evening at Camp Alfred vail n. - -.
200 miles from washington In inc
FIRST. Gen. Pershins: time or ar
rival. $40 o'clock pm. Second. Con.
Harris: s:4S o'clock. Third. Betty
B.-named after the third prize yin yin
iorie s.-named after the second prize
winner-S:46 o'clock. The average
speed was about fifty miles an hour.
| The pigeon Gen. Harrt0 ia claimed
to be the fastest homer in the world.
| but il Indifferent as to racing. for
whenever he feels tired he does not
| hesitate to seek a convenient perch
| and rest for awhile. He was wounded
/. in action in France.
I One hundred homing pigeons which
few to Potomac Park also were re-
leased.
soon after the pigeons were re.
! leased, the provisional battalion COM
! posed of the 18th and 18th Infantry
| troops Of Camp Meade. formed the
escort to the colors. A review Of the
! assembled troops and high school
cadets then followed. concluding the
! exercises.
! Well Kuown Persons Present.
Besides tho prise winners and Sec
rotary Baker. among those seated In
| the grandstand were Gen. Peyton c.
March, chief Of STAFF: Maj. Gen. Peter
C. Harris. the adjutant general:
Samuel Gompers. president Of the
l. Thurston. superintendent Of the
District public schools: Senator Pat
| Harrison Of Mississippi. Representa-
| tive Rucker Of Missouri. and Repre-.
sentative Stephens Of Mississippi. and
Lieut.. c. C. Lowe.
| exercises the three prise winners were
| entertained At . special performance
at the Knickerbooker Theater BY Mai.
oliver H. Dockery. The perform
ance was given under the auspices
Of the War Department welfare serv-
Ice.
MAI. Oliver n. Dockery, tr.. Of the
adjutant generals department, was in
charge Of the ceremonies yesterday,
assisted by Capt. Joseph p. Gregory Of
Army, manager Of "the Come Back"
the wounded soldiers newspaper, pub
iished at Walter Reed General Hos
pital.