Evening star., 1928-11-18
American Legion.

world War. This plan has been sue
cessfllllv carried out by several depart
ments of the Legion and was oftlclally
indorsed as an activity OF the natlonal
child welfare Committee of the Legion
at the recent national convention at
San Antonio, Tex.
Much interest is being shown by
American Legion posts all over Ine
country in the awards for the best
most histories offered by Eben Put
nam. national historian of the Legion,
who was recently reappointed by the
national executive committee. A num-
of INQUIRIES for further information about
the awards have been received al tne
national headquarters of the Legion
AS outlined in the report OF Ma
tionaI Historian Putnam. which was
given at the San Antonio natlonai
convention, the award is for Two years
one in 1880 and the other in 1883. the
awards apply to any post history, which
broadly speaking, meets the require
ments of what post history should be-
as outlined in a bulletin on the sub
iect issued by national headquarters
Posts competing for the 1880 award
must submit their histories to the COM
mittee on award prior to May l, 1881:
and those competing for the 1883 award
must submit their histories prior TO
May l, 1888.
The committee to Judge the manu-
scripts submitted by the posts VIII be
composed of three department niSto-
rians appointed by the national hlsto-
rian This committee will be the sole
judge of the suitability Of the histories
submitted.
The author of the post history which
annears to the committee TO best meet
The conditions regardless of the extent
of the manuscript. but with due re-
card to the difficulties encountered in
its compilation, is to receive Legion
badge with medal appended done i'll
cold and duly inscribed. The post to
which he belongs, and OF which the
history has been written. is to receive
d miniature movie outfit or the cash
equivalent as a credit toward the pur-
chase of a more expensive outtlt.
Authors of the next two best MS
tories are to receive similar badges
with medals and the authors of the
five next best are to receive Legion
badges with gold clasps with either
the words Post Historian, Honorable
Mention or similar designation These
Awards will be made in each Of the
two years the contest is conducted,
The purpose of the national historian
IN Offering the awards is to encourage
the many post historians who nave be-
sun the complla ton of a history OF
The post in which they hold office to
complete the work they have begun.
The past week was strenuous one
FOR the Legionnaires of the District,
starting with the Armistlc ball last Sat-
urday night. followed on Sunday Win
exercises at the tomb of the Unknown
~ - 1.,j = e
conmemoration of the tenth annlver-
sary of the signing Of the armistice at
the washington Auditorium Sunday
night at 8:45 O'Clock. The evening cere-
n,onv was featured with addresses by
President Calvin Coolidge, Gen. John J.
Pershing and National Commander Paul
v. McNutt, all of which have received
favorable comment throughout the
United States.
The Armistice ball, at the New Will
lard Hotel, was reported success and
was attended by many persons high in
military and social circles of the Ma
tional Capital It was held jointly un-
der the auspices of the Veterans of For
eisn Wars and the American Legion
and was the first Of its kind ever held
by these two organizations Of veterans.
1t will do much to cement the friend
ship and comradeship between the
members Of the two organizations, and
will undoubtedly result in other Joint
affairs being held under similar
auspices.
The services at Arlington Cemetery
vere largely attended ard those present
heard the tributes to those who paid
the supreme sacrifice in the World Waf.
Wreatls we're placed on the tomb by
practically every veteran organization
III the District. together with units from
other cities and by numerous women's
organizations.
with several thousand persons. who lis
tened with interest to the tributes nsid
by President Coolidge and National
Condr. McNutt and of review of the
World War by Gen Pershing, the lat
ter's speech being broadcast from
Omaha, Nebr.. direct to the Audlto-
rum The audience sat in absolute
silence during this unusual feature. the
amplifiers enabling the speaker to be
heard as if he were present on the
stage with President Coolidge. National
Comdr McNutt and invited guests. At
The conclusion of his address Past Ma
tiohal Comdr. Edward E. Spafford ex
dressed appreciation for his part on
the program. and his return message
vas likewise broadcast through the
microphone on the stage.
National Comdr. McNutt was honor
guest at luncheon given by Dept.
Conldr. Harlan Wood last Saturday aft
ernoon at the Carlton Hotel, as were
also members of the Armistice day COM
nlittee and the national commanders
reception committee At the conclu-
sion Of the luncheon Dept. Comdr Wood
introduced those present in brief
speech The national commander re-
sponded by telling those present that
he considered the coming year one Of
the brightest in the history of the
American Legion. Judging from the start
which had been made since the San An
tonic convention, in october. He said
that the Department of the District OF
Columbia should be the stronghold of
the American Legion. being located as 1t
was in the National Capital. He ex-
pressed his deep interest in the local
department and compared the prob
lens confronting the Legion in large
cities as compared with those in the
rural sections. He heartily approved
the campaign to increase the present
membership and said this could be
done by building up community in
terest and getting the members to work
out a constructive program. In this
manner many of the problems could be
satisfactorily solved. He said that he
expected to visit Washington number
of times during the coming year. and
offered to cooperate in every way to
assist In the upbuilding of this depart
ment.
Those attending the luncheon were
National Comdr. Paul v. McNutt. De-
partment Comdr. Harlan Wood, Brig.
Cen. Frank T. Hines. director, United
States Veterans Bureau; Past Depart
nent Comdrs. e. Lester Jones, John
Lewis Smith. Frank l.. Peckham Paul
J. McGafan. Julius I. Peyser, Amos A.
Fries and J. Miller Kenyon; Depart