Evening star., 1929-06-10
SPEAKERS REVIEW
HISTORY OF FLAG
Exercises Held Preliminary
to 152d Anniversary Friday
of National Emblem.

The American flag and its traditions
two services preliminary to Flag day,
Friday, which will mark the 152d an
niversary of the national emblem.
Vice President Charles Curtis led
thousands in one observance yesterday
afternoon on the west steps of the
Capitol.
The other service was called to order
during the afternoon at the Sylvan
Theater. on the Monument grounds,
under auspices of Washington Lodge,
No. Is, B. P. o. Elks.
Several thousand persons, massed on
the Capitol steps and over the grounds,
heard one program as relayed to them
through loud speakers.
Moss Tells of Ideals.
Col James A. Moss, president gen.
eral of the United States Flag Asocia-
ton. which sponsored the exercises,
made the principal address. He re-
ferred to the ideals which have attached
to the Stars and Stripes during peace
and war for $50 years,
"At this vesper hour" Col. Moss con-
tinued. ION this holy Sabbath preced-
ing Flag day, as the setting sun sinks
behind Arlington Heights and the eve-
ming shadows lengthen, we of different
religious faith and racial blood, hands
Joined in spirit, the dome of the Ma
tional Capitol looking down upon us,
are come together to render reverential
tribute to the flag that stands for toler-
ance and good will among men Of all
creeds and races"
An interesting feature of the program
was the presentation by Is members
of the Capitol Society, Children of the
American Revolution, Of pageant de-
picting the evolution of the American
flag from the Spanish colors first
planted on the soil of the New World
by Columbus.
This event was followed by the form
ing of two human flags on the Capitol
steps by some 1000 school children
dressed in red, white and blue paper
costumes. This spectacle was pre-
sented before what was said to be the
worlds largest flag, an emblem measur-
ing 80 by 165 feet, which adorned the
west side of the Capitol
Crosses of Honor Awarded.
Another high light of the observance
was the appearance Of 13-year-old Betsy
Ross, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. George
Ross of 1900 Lamont street, a descend
ant of the Betsy Ross who made the
first American flag. She served as
color bearer
Vice President Curtis awarded crosses
OF honor OF the Flag Association to ID
boys and like number of girls. win
ners in a national essay contest.
Taps" concluded the program. sound
ed on the bugle used at the burial of the
Unknown Soldier and at the funerals
of President Wilson, William Jennings
Bryan and Gen. Leonard Wood.
Prayers at the service were offered by
DR.. j. Shera Montgomery, chaplain of
the House; Rabbi Abram Simon, presi-
dent of the Union of American Re-
formed Rabbis, and Right Rev. James
H. Ryan, rector of Catholic University.
Group songs were led by William r.
Schmucker, while several numbers were
rendered by the Marine Corps Band un-
der direction Of Capt. Taylor Branson.
The principal speaker at the observ-
ance sponsored by Elks was Charles Col
fax Long, who urged that the American
desire for peace and her willingness to
defend it.
We must live up to the glorious
Ideals for which our emblem has stood
for more than $50 years." Mr.. Long
declared that tolerance shall walk
hand and hand with religion"
Judge Robert E. Mattingly was next
on the program, with history of the
flag from its inception to the present
day.
The service was climaxed by a massed
colors ritual, in which standards were
assembled of 80 posts of the American
Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Spanish War Veterans, Grand Army OF
the Republic, Reserve Officers ASsocia-
ton, American Veterans Club, Confed-
crate War Veterans, Washington Boy
Scouts and the Drill Corps of the Wash
ing Lodge.
AS a prelude to the ceremony, the
National Guard Band, with Myer Gold
man conducting, gave half-hour con-
cert, followed by six vocal selections by
the Chevy Chase Chanters of the Dis
trict and Maryland under direction of
Herndon Morsel. Other musical num-
berS were rendered by the Costello
Band, American Legion Drum Corps,
directed by Sergt. Jack Lynch, and
the Overseas Drum Corps of the Vet
erans of Foreign Wars, led by Sergt.
Maj. William p Winsdale.
Parades Precede Exercises.
The invocation was delivered by
Very Rev. Edward G. Fitzgerald, Domi-
nician House of Studies, and the bene-
diction by the Rev. George F. Dudley.
pastor of the st. Stephens and Incar-
nation Church.
Parades led by the two drum corps
met prior to the observance in down.
town Washington, circled the Monu-
ment and entered the Sylvan Theater
in maSSed formation.
The local service sponsored by the
Eiks was one OF 1865 similar exercises
arranged by as many lodges over the
United States and its possessions.
Another Flag day service was held by
The Knights OF Pythias of the District,
who made pilgrimage yesterday after
noon 10 the Tomb of the Unknown Sol
der Drelininary To a rituali$&c ohserY-