Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-05
SOUSA TO ATTEND
BIG FLAG SERVICE
First Vesper Exercises to Be
Conducted Sunday on
Capitol Steps.

The first vesper flag service ever
held in the United States, will take
place on the West steps of the Capitol
next Sunday afternoon in connection
with the Nation wide observance of
Flag week" from June s to IA. Plans
for the exercises include the presence
of John Philip Sousa. who will lead
the United States Marine Band, which
he once commanded, in the playing of
his famous march, Stars and Stripes
Forever"
Mr.. Sousa is coming to Washington.
the place of his birth. solely to par
ticipate in the exercises. Capt. William
II. Santelmann. recently retired leader
of the famous hand. will lead the
organization in playing his own com
position, Our Glorious Banner and
then the regular program will be in
the hands of Capt. Taylor Branson,
successor to Capt. Santelmann.
Most Impressive Spectacle.
The service is under the auspices of
the United States Flag Association,
with the cooperation of Washington
Lodge. No. Is. B. P. Q. Elks. There
will be singing of patriotic songs by
a vested choir of more than 1000
voices, two living flags" each formed
by 1000 school children dressed in
red, white and blue the flag ritual of
the Elks and other features in which
clergy of all denominations will par.
ticipate
1--WE expect to make this vesper flag
service one of the most impressive
spectacles ever witnessed in the Ma
tional Capital" Col. James A. Moss,
director general of the association,
said last night. celebrating as 1t
does the 150th anniversary of the
adoption of the flag of the United
States and coming at time when the
Stars and Stripes have just attained
worldwide prominence again by blaz.
ing the way by airplane across the
Atlantic on an American.built airship,
piloted by an intrepid young Ameri-
can, we feel that the combined re-
ligious and patriotic celebration plan.
ned for June IL is singularly appro-
pirate"
Col. Moss said that Capt. Lind
bergh, who will be in Washington on
that day, will be invited to attend the
service.
Three great religious leaders, Car
dinal O'Connell of Boston, senior Cath
Ole prelate of the United States;
Rabbi Abram Simon of Washington,
chairman Of the Synagogue Council
of America, and Right Rev. James Z.
Freeman, Bishop of Washington, have
Joined in an Endorsement of the ma
tional celebration.
Statement of Churchmen.
The statement of the three divines
follows:
I'VE heartily indorse the splendid
plan of the United States Flag AS
ISOLATION, headed by the President of
the United States as honorary presi-
dent, to commemorate this year in
big, Nationwide way, the sesquicen-
tennial of the adoption of the flag of
our country.
''As the three who were honored by
being selected to represent the protes.
tant, Jewish and Catholic faiths on
the board of thirteen founders of the
United States Flag Association, we
earnestly invite the ministers of all
creeds and denominations to join in
fitting observance of the 150th ami
versary of the adoption of the Stars
and Stripes, and would suggest that
on the sabbath nearest to Flag day
that is on Sunday, June u. or on Sat
urday, June II, for those to whom
Saturday is sabbath--the minds of
their congregations dwell Upon the
flag of the United States and the
ideals, traditions. principles and insti-
tutions for which that flag stands
Exercises June IA.
Plans for another patriotic celebra-
ton of Flag day. Tuesday, June IA, in
honor Of the sesquicentennial of the
flag. to be staged on the east front
of the Capitol, under the auspices of
the Grand Army of the Republic and
the Woman's Relief Corps and with
the cooperation of the dramatic Sec
ton OF the Community Center De-
partment, are nearing completion.
The celebration will take place at
8 PM, with prominent citizen Of the
District as speaker: music by the
United States Marine Band, and
pageant feature entitled Our Flag"
written by Marie Moore Forrest. The
celebration is Under the direction of
Capt. F. J. Young, patriotic instructor
of the G.. A. r., and Mrs. Helen
Temple, patriotic instructor Of the
Woman's Relief Corps. Department
Of the Potomac.
Scouts to Assist.
Troops of Boy Scouts and Girl
OCOuLS VIII take part III the pageant
which will require the services of 200
participants. including groups repre-
senting the Grand Army of the Re-
public, Woman's Relief Corps,
Daughters of Union Veterans Of the
Civil War, Sons of Union Veterans
OF the Civil War, including Lincoln,
Gushing and Harding Camps and
their auxiliaries; United Spanish War
Veterans and their auxiliaries, Lineal
Society of the Spanish War, Veterans
of Foreign Wars and auxiliaries,
American Legion and auxiliaries.
Utah and Idaho Club, and a number
of other patriotic groups.
Rehearsals will be held on the east
front of the Capitol the evenings of
June 10 and June Is, at which all
groups are expected to be present.
The committee on costumes in
cludes representatives of all partici-
pating organizations, its members
being Mrs. Addie Hickman, Mrs.
Charlotte Cary, Mrs. Kathryn Rain,
Mrs. Nan Slattery, Miss Helen Down.
ing, Mrs. Edith Bugbee, Mrs. Sophie
Bergner. Mrs. Lizzie Bassett, Mrs.
Jessie Thomas, Mrs. Carrie H. Doyle.
Bird Has Three Names.