Evening star., 1927-03-13

They are +. Lester Jones, VINO was lne
first post and the first department com
mander in the entire American Legion
consisting of over ] 500 posts; Johh
Lewis Smith, who served as post com
mander and later as department com
mander, and Howard 5. FISK VINO
sBrved as the first post ana the nrss
department adjutant in the united
States and. who was later commaHoeI
0f George Washington Post.
The post, which was ofgahlDeu
March z. 1919, was known as General
P3rshing Post, No. j. but this was
later changed to George Washington
Post. No. /, in order TO comply with
the constitution as adopted at the eau
csls in St Louis in May. 1919. AT the
Initial meeting, held in the Cosmos
dkIb. nearly 400 veterans of all
baAnches of the service were present
and took part in the organization
Work. While all of the 10 signers 1or
the post charter are living. with one
exception. but five are at the present
time members of the post, the others
having Joined posts in other sections
of the country.
In referring to the Legion two of the
speakers of the evening spoke of Past
Comdr. Howard s. Fisk as one of the
outstanding members of the American
Legion, who celebrated with the post
eight years of consistent service in the
organization, and the fact that his at
tendance record is not only not held
by any other member in the District
department, if not in the entire or
ganization. He has attended every
meeting of the post since 1t was or
ganized eight years ago, has been
delegate from George Washington
VfY PnnWQnff0n
and has been either a delegate or al
ternate to every one of the eight ma
tional conventions. In addition to
this he has taken with him the post
colors to every national convention,
and the result of his interest in his
post is evidenced by the eight silver
bands which adorn the flagstaff of the
colors at the clubhouse. In apprecia-
fion of his efforts and interest the post
Is sending him to Paris in September
with the colors to attend the ninth
national convention.
Coincident with the celebration last
week was the presence Of many of the
past commanders of the post, includ-
ing Past Post and Past Department
Comdrs. Z. Lester Jones and John
Lewis Smith, Howard s. Fisk, Lew S.
Mohler, Percy B. Mccoy, Wallace
Streater, j. j. Murphy and Charles o.
Shaw. Other past department COM
Hnanders present were Watson B. Mil
Ter, who was also a national vice COM
mander, and Paul J. McGahan.
The guest and principal speaker OF
the evening was Past National Comdr.
Hanford MacNider, at present Assist
ant Secretary of War. John Thomas
Taylor, vice chairman of the national
legislative committee, was also pres
An] nA1a Tnlc
mander of Lincoln Post, No. II.
Charles B. Hanford is the only de-
ceased past commander of the post.
War songs were sung, led by Guy
Withers and accompanied by the Z.
6. Army Band Orchestra. Other en-
tertainers included tenor solos by
Thurston DemasterS, accompanied at
the piano by Miss Grant: dancing, Miss
Florence Berry; stories and recitations,
Maurice Jarvis: baritone solos, Helm
rich Meyn, accompanied by James
Russell Barr at the piano; violin Sc
lections, Norman Goldman; clog dane
ing. BILLY" Mcintyre.
The present officers of the post are;
Commander, Gilbert T. Rude: first vice
commander. Henry w. Longfellow;
second vice commander. James p.
Cromwell: third vice commander, Ber-
nard G. MCGEE; adjutant, Bernard G.
MCGEE; finance officer, Howard s. Rap.
pelye; quaftermaster, Henry J. Rath;
sergeant-at-arms, J. w. Brashears;
master-at-arms, y. J. Owen surgeon,
DIR. II. M, Darnall; historian, Past
COmdr. Howard S. Fisk; chaplain. Rev.
Howard f. Snyder; color bearers,
Henry J. Rath and William Lawler.
The meeting March Is will be as par
Elephants in the benefit theater party
n 80 fnr hn hon ~
the department welfare fund. under
the auspices Of the Forty and Eight
organization. The post colors will be
present with those OF the other posts
at this gathering.
The u. S. S. Jacob Jones Post. No.
2, the American Legion, will meet
at the Thomas Circle Club, 1926
Massachusetts avenue, tomorrow at
pm. Tables will be arranged for
cards after a short business meeting
Plans have been completed by the
ways and means committee for bene-
fit party 10 be given at keith's Thea
ter April 26.
Membership standings of the vari-
GUS departments Of the American
Legion on February % are shown
in the following table. They are based
on the totals in 1927 membership
reported by the departments to ma
1ional headquarters on the date shown
above: Alabama, 2.722: Arizona, .557;
Arkansas, 3.227; California, 15.017;
Colorado, 1,195; Connecticut, 4,599;
Delaware, 4l9; District OF Columbia,
1.003; Florida. 1929; Georgia, 3,145;
idaho, 2,942; Illinois, 40.098: Indiana,
1851; Iowa, 14,341: Kansas, 1876;
Kentucky. 4,343; Louisiana. 2,l50;
Maine. 3.510. MARYLAND 399: Massa.