Evening star., 1924-05-18
Veterans of Great War


Department of the District of Co,
lumbia are turning their attention
toward the fulfillment of their obli
cation TO honor the nations heroic
dead. Within the past two weeks
preliminary steps to join with the
Grand Army of the Republic and the
other veterans organizations of
Washington in the matter of raising
funds for the purpose of decorating
the thousands of veterans graves in
and around the District of Columbia
have been taken. A special commit
tee. head by William +. Franklin.
senior vice commander OF the local
legion department, has been appoint
ed by Department Commander Paul
j. McGahan to arrange the details
which will be carried out in the in
dividual services to be conducted by
the various posts.
As tribute to the American dead
of the world war more than 5000
members of the American Legion from
Pennsylvania-the majority being
from Philadelphia-wll arrive in
Washington today at IL am. and jour
dier at Arlington.
At noon special service. to which
all interested veterans OF the Dis
trict of Columbia are invited. will be
ut Arlington. This is the second pill
srimage of the Pennsylvanians to the
nations shrine and was arranged un-
der the auspices of the Philadelphia
County committee and the Pennsyl-
Nania Department of the American
Legion after an invitation to repeat
the tour of last year bad been eX-
tended in behalf OF the local legion
JlaireS by Department Commander Nc
Gahan.
The principal speaker will be Brig
Gen. Edward Martin. who commanded
the 55th Infantry Brigade of the 2sth
made up of members of the Pennsyl-
Nnnia National Guard, won fame as
the iron division" The other speak
"rs will be j. Leo Collins. department
in Pennsylvania, and James NJ. Rose,
The chairman of the Philadelphia
County committee. The chaplain will
be Rev. Henry +. Wilkie, haplain of
the Henry H. Houston Post. No. 3, of
Philad delphia.
One of the special delegations COM
ing with the Philadelphia Pilgrims
will represent the Ingersoll- Walthour
which Past National roil:mandrr
Franklin D'Olier is a member This
group will visit the grave of DR.. Leo
Bernd. Il past comma lder of the In
gersoil Post, who died as a conse-
quence of an illness contracted dur
ing his service as a medical major in
France.
The commanders OF the various
posts of the American Legion in
Washington have issued a call to the
membership of their units to facili-
tate in every va: the collection of
funds for the decorat tion of graves in
local cemeteries Oh Decoration day,
which is going forward under the
leadership of the Grand Army OF the
Republic.
Past Commander Francis f. Miller
Of the Bureau of Printing and En-
craving post is serving on the finance
committee of the combined veterans
organizations of Washington, which
is directing this drive. Subscription
lists are being circulated in the vari-
Gus centers. and the now familiar
been placed in hundreds of stores
throughout the city. The general
public is asked by the leaders of all
the veterans organizations to make
their contributions 81 that this patri-
nt;c duty may he adequately carried
out by the veterans and the grave of
Zach deceased soldier. sailor. marine
and nurse may be decorated.
Department Commander McGahan
Aas called meeting of the executive
committee of the District of Colum-
bia Department of the American Le-
gion at the department headquarters
FOR Monday night, May 26. At this
meeting Senior Vice Commander
Franklin will present his final plans
to the commanders of the various
posts, all of whom have already in
dicated their Willingness to cooper
ate in every way possible.
James \. Mcfarland, national COM
mander of the Disabled American
Veterans, came t"pm his ho"ra IL
Georgia during t'l,- ,veaE o d!"a:t
operations looking 10 d Favorable
vote on the Royal Johnson bill for
x1s,Nr, ,,x
Bureau. The Johnson measure con-
tains most OF the items in the Dis
abled American Veterans program
and while il is not considered 4 cure
all, il is rated by the disabled men
as strong advance toward more
satisfactory functioning of the bu-'>
reau. Commander Mcfarland has ad-
dressed nine n. \. V. state conven-
will speak before several more be-
fore starting to Salt Lake City for
the national convention the last week
of next month.
The ball of the Disabled American
Veterans at the Willard Il week ago
last night was so successful financial
" that at least one and possibly two
more delegates will be sent to the
rational convention "a salt Lake
City.
At its meeting held May II. Post
District of Columbia voted that it
would be known hereafter as the
Kenneth Lewis Post. No. 20. The
name selected is in honor of the high
school boy who served with the Dis
trict of Columbia National Guard and
later in the @72d Infantry. and who
was the first colored man from Wash
ington killed in action in the world
war.
Discussion of plans for Memorial
day services brought out many ideas.
and it was decided that in addition
TO cooperation with the department
Memorial day committee, headed bv
Senior Vice Commander William f..
Franklin, the members of the post
would make pilgrimage to the
grave of Kenneth Lewis in Arlington.
where appropriate services will be
held. The post is inviting all colored
ox-service men to attend smoker
May 26 at the Holy Name Guild build
ing. at 1927 18th street northwest. An
invitation to deliver the PRINCIPAL adj
dress has been extended to Watson
B. Miller. chairman of the national
rehabilitation committee. Depart
ment Commander Paul J. NcGahan
and Senior Vice Commander Franklin
have also been asked to speak.
An engraved picture of the late
President Warren G. Harding now
Hdorns the walls of the clubhouse of
George Washington Post No /. at
1899 / street northwest. The picture.
handsomely framed in mahogany. is
gift to the post of Mrs. Florence
King Harding. widow of the late
President. and was presented through
n. w. Iongfellow. charter member
If the post.
The picture bears the following in
scription: ITO George Washington
Post; No. !. With greetings and an
Fd1enss T1iaing Klne liias Hardingl an our America
lust prior to his departure on his