Evening star., 1927-12-04
kENS|NGTON HOLDS
ARMORY CEREMONY
Gov. Ritchie Speaks as New
Building Is Turned Over
% Town.

Calling upon the citizens to dedicate
their new armory not alone 10 the
uses of the National Guard, but also
ITO the high and lofty heritages with
which we are so richly endowed In
Maryland" Gov. Albert G. Ritchie
yesterday afternoon delivered the chief
address at the dedication ceremonies
of the new National Guard Armory at
kensington.
Even though introduced as the
next President" the governor declined
to talk politics." combining himself to
an enumeration of the two main pur-
poses which the new armory would
serve. The first of these, he said, was
to provide adequate housing for the
local howitzer company and other Ma
tional Guard units, which the speaker
tauded as the Nations greatest emer-
gency defense. The second was TO
meet the needs of the community,
Gov. Richie said, calling attention to
the fact that the building would con-
tain the offices of the mayor and coun-
ell. the quarters for the volunteer fire
department and recreational facilities.
Parade Opens Ceremony.
The dedication exercises followed
parade, composed of the local Natlonal
t;uard unit, American Legion officials,
veterans OF the Spanish-Amerlcan
Mar and the kensington and Rock
vile fire departments. The lst In
fantry band headed the column.
Gov. Ritchie and his staff reviewed
the parade from the front of the
armory, and at its conclusion the
soldiers, officials and public, in all
numbering about 500, assembled in
the main drill hall for the dedication
ceremonies.
Raymond j.. Burgdorf, commander
OF the Arnold Wilburn Post OF the
American Legion, under whose aus
pices the ceremonies We're held, pre-
sided DR.. Lucien B. Ernest, mayor
of kensington and a lieutenant in the
Howitzer Company, 1st Regiment,
Maryland National Guard, delivered
the address of welcome to Gov. Ritchie
and the audience. reminding his
hearers that Kensington was the
smallest town in Maryland to possess
IN armory.
Following Gov. Ritchie's address,
Brig. Gen. Milton A. ReckOrd, adju-
tant general of Maryland, command
ing the 5Sth Infantry Brigade, made
the formal presentation of the armory
to Capt. Clarence v. Sayer, comman-
der of the Howitzer Company. AS soon
as Gen. Reskord made the actual pres
entation, the company, which had
been standing at ease in the rear of
the hall, was marched before the
stage, under the command of Lieut..
David Parsons, and stood at attention
AS Capt. Sayer made his speech of
acceptance.
Citizen Soldiers Lauded.
Capt. Sayer was followed by Col
ID. John Markey. commander of the
list Infantry Regiment, Maryland Ma
tional Guard, and a past comma nder,
department OF Maryland, the Ameri.
can Legion, who spoke Of the prom
inent part the "citizen soldiers" of
the State had played in all the wars
In which America had participated.
The only flaw in the celebration
was that the heating apparatus of the
armory failed and Gov. Ritchie and
others in the building remained in
their overcoats during the ceremonies.
The celebration was brought to a
close with band concert, reception
TO Gov. Ritchie and dance in the
armory last night.
The howitZer company is seven
years old. At one time it had IL
sets of brothers in its membership,
four of them from one family.