The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-06-14
PAID
NATION 5
FLAG
Mrs. Coolidge Takes Part on
ElIipse-Secretary Weeks
Appeals for Aid to Camps

Appeals for Aid to Camps
Exercises concentrating the
149th birthday Of the American
flag were observed by various or
CARNATIONS throughout the city
today.
Leading the program, were the
exercises at the Ellipse when
Mrs. Coolidge, representing the
President, and Secretary of War
Weeks paid homage to the Stars
and Stripes, to an audience which
included more than 1000 school
children.
Essay Prizes Awarded.
The services at the Ellipse was
featured by the presentation Of
awards to the winners in the ma
tional essay contest, under tho
auspices of the Women's Overseas
Service League, given to arouse in
terest in the citizens military train.
ing camps.
The first prize went to Miss Adele
Daniel, of Vicksburg, Miss, the
second to Miss Luella Lancaster, of
Junction City, Kan. and the third
to Miss Dorothy M. Beal, Of Fred
ericks Hall, Va. Major General
John l.. Hines presided.
Pleads for Camps.
Secretary Weeks was the principal
speaker and he paid homage to the
flag as the symbol of our national
identity" and urged citizens gen
orally to support the military train
ing camps.
I'VE all hope that the young men
who attend camp this summer" he
said, will never be required to use
their military attachments in cam.
paign.
Peace is the normal state of the
nation. But this does not mean
that the training they acquire win
not be an asset to the nation. The
nationalism and sense Of civil re.
sponsibility possessed by the citi.
zens of a country constitute that
country's strongest assets-assets
which are vital at all times. The
maintenance Of the national de-
Tense is a by-product Of those as
sets.
Duties Of Citizens.
I'VE do this flag the most homage
and the deepest reverence when we
strengthen out country and upbuild
our citizens physically, mentally and
morally that they may more effec-
lively serve their country and
themselves under any circum-
stances.
Our country is a great world
power today, not merely because
we once. adopted certain principles
Of Government. but because we
provided that we could live as a
nation under those principles.
Likewise a citizen does not serve
his country by merely acclaiming
his loyalty. That is only an indi.
cation Of his excellent intentions.
1t is by his deeds, not his words,
that he provides himself a patriot
a follower Of the flag. So the flag
should remind US of our obligations
for service to a common cause"
The military training camps had
as their principal purpose, Secre-
tary Weeks said, the avoidance in
the future of THE useless sacrifices
to unpreparedness that so many
young Americans were forced to
make in Belleau Woods, among the
grain fields of Scissor, on the
slopes of st. Mihiel, and in the
Argonna Forest"
The principle upon which the
were founded, he declared,
go back to Thomas jefferson, who
he quoted as saying that the truth
must now be obvious that we can.
not be defended, but by making
every citizen a soldier"
ut has been to our sorrow"
Weeks declared. that we as a ma.
ton have not memorized these
words"
Civic Organizations Active.
Taking part in the exercises were
representatives Of many of the city's
leading organizations, including the
six honor companies Of high school
cadets, representatives of the Board
of Trade, Chamber 70 Commerce and
National Manufacturers Association.
Seldom has the Ellipse staged
more striking demonstration than
the exercises held there this morn.
ing. In many respects 1t was one
of the most notable open air events
in the history of the National Capi.
tai. Among those attending we're
hundreds of government employers
who managed to be relieved from
their official duties in time to join
in the gathering.
Representatives Of many Of tho
diplomatic missions were to be seen
in the crowd. Hundreds Of automo-
biles lined the roadway surrounding
the Ellipse and were parked in
adjacent roadways.
Thousands Of American flags