Evening star., 1920-06-14
.B|RTH0F OLD GLORY
THEME Of PATRIOTS
| IN THE CITY TODAY
Schools Celebrate Flag Day
Anniversary-Pageant To-
night-WiIson's Tribute.

Today is national Flag day-the
143d anniversary Of the birth of the
American emblem.
Conceived in the quaint little home
Of Betsy Ross. in Philadelphia. and hal
lowed by the blood Of thousands Of
patriots who gave their lives that Old
sGlpEy. and, the ideals 1t typifies might
live forever. the flag is venerated to-
day by every loyal Ameritan.
Special exercises were held in every
school in Washington today. Out at
Fort Myer, Va. veterans Of, the world
war united in paying tribute to the
stars and Stripes. Tonight, at Z
o'clock. mass meeting and patriotic
pageant will be held on the east steps
Of the Capitol.
President wilson's Message.
President Wilson, who was asked by
Col. John McElroy, commander of the
Department of the Potomac, q. A. r..
to attend the mass meeting tonight,
sent the following reply regretting that
he VIII be unable to be present:
Il wish with all my heart that I
could be present at the loyalty dem
the evening Of June IA. 1 shall GER
tainly be present in spirit, though
circumstances prevent my being pres
ent in body.
Fortunately for us Americans, 10y
atty is not 50 much a compulsion Of
duty as a compulsion of the heart
In being loyal we are being true to
ourselves, to the principles in which
we were nurtured and bred and
which we have long recognized as
true expression of our national char
acter and purpose, and l believe that
as the years go by and the policy
Of the country develops along con-
sistent lines loyalty will grow warm
er and warmer until it consumes ev-
erything that is base or hostile"
Addresses Scheduled.
Addresses will be made by Secretary
of the Navy Daniels. Col. McElroy and
Mrs. Isabel Worrell Ball. The United
States Marine Band will play. The
National Community Chorus of 1000
songs. led by Charles S. Wengard of
the Community Service. Every school
child in Washington has been in
vited to attend the exercises.
In addition to the singing and
speechmaking. patriotic pageant. di-
rected by Mrs: Mary NJ. North. Mrs.
Marie Moore Forrest and Mrs. Ball.
will be an attractive feature.
Veterans of the American expedi-
tionary forces and other patriotic
and fraternal organizations will take
part in the celebration. The COM
mittee in charge Of the affair con-
sists Of Col McElroy. Mrs; Ball. Mrs.
James A. Drain. Capt. J. Walter
Mitchell, Col Winfield Jones. Marvin
Gates Sperry, Capt. w. L. Mattocks,
.. S. snyder and Mrs. NJ. B. Fauth.
Secretary Colby Talks to Elks.
Secretary Colby of the State De-
partment was the principal speaker
at Flag day exercises yesterday aft
ernoon at Sylvan Theater by the
Washington Lodge of Elks.
.SThe times call for great action. for
high and disinterested action" said
Mr.. Colby. I'VE have problems at
home which clamor for solution and
which can be solved only in the spirit
which are long postponed and which
can only be discharged in the noble
and generous spirit of the flag.
The ideals of America are wrapped
in its folds. It commentaries the
deeds and the sacrifices of our best
nation which is selfish. 1t is no flag
for a people which is pusillanimous
1t is not an appropriate banner for
a policy of declared Indifference to
the sufferings or the future Of the
world.
as it has always spoken, a message
Of cheer and help to the oppressed;
a clear note of leadership to the as
piring in all lands. a note of aid and
succor to liberty wherever liberty
faIters or is assailed. 1t speaks for.
the redemption and not the repudia-
ton Of the nations pledges.
TT is the flag, of work, of service,
of courage. 1t Is the flag of chivalrous
men and noble women. 1t Is a flag
Of glory. It, Is flag which has
moved forward on every field, never
backward. and today and at this
hour it cannot be an emblem Of a
moral retreat upon the field of high
est service. the rescue of the world,
to which. our destiny as nation
calls US"
Committee Of Arrangements.
The committee in. charge of ar
rangements was headed by Patrick J.
Calian. while commisaioner Louis
Brownlow acted as honorary chair-
man, introducing Secretary Colby. The
committee also included former Exalted
Ruler Howard NJ. Peter. Esteemed
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