Evening star., 1928-06-01
PRESIDENT PLACES
RED CROSS STONE
0fficiates at Building De-
signed 10 Commemorate
Women's Sacrifices in War.

In the presence of more than Ave
hundred persons, most of them women
who had been engaged In some form of
activity during the World War. Presi-
dent Coolidge, as president of the
American Red Cross laid the corner
stone yesterday of the memorial build
ing to be erected at Seventeenth and E
streets commemorating the. sacrifices
and services of the American women In
that war.
MIR. Coolidge made no address, but
when the time came for him to take the
trowel and place the mortor, he did his
job with the skill OF an experienced
craftsman. He appeared to be In no
hurry to finish and when he had COM
pleted his task he looked around as
though he wanted lots more of that sort
of work. AS he laid his trowel aside
finally. he turned to the audience and
smilingly said, THAT store Is we'll laid"
Chief Justice Taft Presides.
He was followed in the mortar plac-
ing feature of the ceremonies by Chief
Justice william Howard Taft, who pre-
sided over the exercises: Miss Mabel T.
Boardman, secretary of the American
Red Gross: Mrs. Woodrow Wilson and
Rear Admiral w. S. Benson, U. S. NJ,
retired
Dwight F. Davis, Secretary of War,
who formally accepted the memorial OH
behalf of the Government, made brief
speech in which he said that the United
States Government was fully aware of
the great value of the service of the
Red Cross and the American women
and what they did during the World
War. He stated that the Red Gross in
its work knows no line Of demarkation
and .proffers the hand of help to all
those who need 1t, and that 1t typifes
the highest attributes of public service.
Miss Boardman, in an address out
lining the purposes of this memorial
building. said that whatever sacrifice
was demanded, in whatever service
could be rendered. American women
took tfeir part with courage. fortitude
and splendid loyalty and devotion.
Representative Luce's Address.
Representative Luce of Massachusetts,,
who, as chairman of the library COM
mittee of the House, sponsored the bill
authorizing the appropriation Of $780,
600 TO go toward erecting this memo
rial, stated that Congress by this action
showed the Nation TO be grateful for the
sacrifices that have been made. and that
Congress was proud of its share in COM
memorating the conqueSts of mercy, the
trtumphs OF charity and the victories of
love.
Capt. Charles Dickins, chief chaplain
OF the Navy, delivered the invocation.
and Col Edmund p Easterbrook. chief
chaplain of the Army. the bcnediction
Music was furnished by section Of the
United States Marine Band, and the lit
tie platform upon which those having
leading parts In the ceremonies sat. and
the inclosure about the buildings foun-
dation were decorated with flags and
bunting.
Contents Of Box Listed.
In the copper box which was placed
In the corner stone many mementoes
Of wonan's work in the World War
were inc.csed Also there were reports
OF the various wonar's organizations
which served In the war: a khaki-cov-
cred Bible. such as were given the
graphs Of the men and women who
were among the Nations leaders I'm
19i7-l8; photographs OF President and
Mrs. Coolidge: the United States flag.
the Red Gross flag. copy of the Con-
stitution Of the United States and the
Declaration Of Independence; Henry
P. Davison's American Red Cross in
the Great War;" the History Of Red
Cross Nursing" Miss Boardman's book.
Under the Red Cross Flag at Home
and Abroad; copy Of the Red Gross
Courier. coins and stamps of the United
States and map Of the City of WASH
ington
Among those assembled we're repre-
sentatives Of the many organizations in
which women participated In war work.
most Of them either appearing in the
uniforms Of their respective service or
else wearing emblems denoting their
service
The memorial will cost s5T5, 800.