Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-23
VIRGINIA F|REMEN
CROWD ALEXANDRIA
City Filled With Delegates
and Visitors to VoIun-
teers' Convention.
By a staff Correspondent of The Star.


ALEXANDRIA, Va, August o.
Arrayed in all manner of uniforms,
with red the predominating color,
volunteer fire fighters from all over
Virginia arrived here this morning at
the opening of what promises to be
the largest convention of the al years
the Virginia State Firemen's Associa-
ton has been in existence.
The Covington, Va, Fire Depart
ment captured the first two of more
than a score Of prizes which will be
awarded during the convention. which
closes Friday, when it arrived early
this morning. with a blare Of bugles
and changing of bells. 1t won the
S25 cash prize given the first COM
pany to arrive with % or more men
from a distance Of SO or more miles.
and another SIS prize by bringing
the first band. Other companies ar.
rived in rapid succession, and by noon
today more than 80 departments were
represented.
City Gayly Decorated.
Wearing bright red shirts adorned
with huge blue lapels, the citizens
fire companies of Strasburg, Va, We'd
in colorfulness with the company from
Staunton, Va, which wore big blue
shields, red sleeves and white trou-
serS.
The main streets are decked with
flags and bunting and the quarters OF
the Alexandria fire companies, hosts
to the convention, are deliberately
adorned. Chief James M. Duncan,
jr., Of the Alexandria department, and
vice president of the State body, is Of
fetal host to his fellow firemen, and
this afternoon will lead a pilgrimage
to the grave of former Chief Kenneth
w. ogden, who died two years ago.
The Ladies' Auxiliary to the Alexan-
dria department Is entertaining the
visiting auxiliaries, of which there are
several, and has arranged an extern
sive sightseeing and recreational pro-
gram for their enjoyment.
Registration of delegates will oc.
cupy the attention of the reception
committee today. There will be a
band concert and street dance tonight
and tomorrow morning the associa-
ton will hold its annual business
meetin which will witness the cleo
ton Of officers.
Sightseeing Trips.
Trips to Arlington, Mount Vernon
and other points Of interest in the vi
cinity will be on the program tomor.
row. The big day Of the convention
will be Thursday, when the annual
parade will wend it's way through the
streets, although interest is almost as
keen in the program for the final day,
on Friday, when reel races and ath'
letic contests will be held. More than
5000 firemen and probably 500 mem
bers of the various auXiliaries have
signified their intention of participat
ing In the grand parade.
The largest and best appearing com.
pany in line, accompanied by its band
| will win a $3.50 cash prize, while the
company making the best appearance
| without musical accompaniment will
be awarded 1925.
Cash prizes ranging firm 500 to
| SIS, will be given at the reel races.
One OF the principal sections of the
parade will be a guard OF honor
| marching with the historic apparatus
of the Friendship Fire Co. of this
| city which once felt the hand of
Washington upon it's old -fashioned
hand manipulated pump. 1t will be
trundled along close to modern ap.
paratus which today affords protec.
| ton against fire.
Other Companies on Scene.
Companies arriving close behind the
| Covington company this morning In
| clude: Phoebus, Lexington, Harrison
burg, Clifton Forge. Hot Springs
Newport News. Pulaski, Staunton
| Winchester, Galax, Eureka, Ports
mouth, Warrington. Farmville, Char
| lottesville and Salem. A delegation
also was on hand from Seat Pleasant
Md, and by nightfall visiting com
panies will arrice from New Jersey
and points in Pennsylvania.
Sergt. A. G.. Bargagni, official dele
gate to the convention from the Dis
trict OF Columbia Fire Department
! was on hand early this morning greet
ing the first arrivals and inviting then
to participate in the fire fighters pa
rade here Labor day. preliminary t.
the annual base ball game between the
police and fire teams for the benefi
Of the relief fund for families and in
capacitated members of the two serv
ices.
Sergt. Bargagni will have 300 ioca
firemen, representing all of the com
panies in Washington. in the line O
| march of the parade Thursday.