Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23

the Department Of the District of Co
hImbia,. the American Legion, has an
nouncEd tie appointment Of Austin S.
Imtrfe as director of welfare and relief
for the local department, following the
election to membership of the organi-
Zation recently in the Community
Chest, sHis. appointment was announced
at the regular meeting of the depart
nent executive committee last Monday
night and vas unanimously approved
by that body, in addition to receiving
the approval of the official staff of the
Community Chest.
Following a desire on the part of the
Community Chest that the welfare
work of the allied and subordinate
bodies of the American Legion be en-
braced in its program announcement
was also made to this effect by Depart
ment -Comdr. Wood at the executive
meeting and in the future all relief
work which has heretofore come under
the direction of the various posts, aux
iliary units. the Forty and Eight and
Eight and Forty, will be cleared through
the new office just created Of director
of welfare and relief. The Legion pro-
poses to conform in every respect to the
obligations of the Community Chest
and the generous citizens Of the Ma
Gonal Capital who make its success a
reality. The Community Chest program
will be supported and every effort made
to cooperate with that organization.
Director Imirie is one of the charter
members of the local department and
has served at various times in the de-
partment. He was formerly department
adjutant, department finance officer
and in 1921 was a vice commander Of
the department. For three years he
served as commander of Quentin Roose-
welt Post, of which he is still an active
member. For number Of years he was
connected with the American Red Cross
at national headquarters in this city,
having served as supervisor of camps
OF the entry of the United States in
the World War He enrolled as q hos
pital apprentice in 1917 and later took
examination for a pay clerk in the
United States Navy, to which position
he was appointed in 1918. In the same
year he was commissioned an assistant
paymaster with the rank Of ensign In
the Sfinpiy Corps. He was sent to
Queenstown, Ireland, where he served
as supply officer, representing the
Un1tedvS States Navy In charge of sup
plies at the Naval Hospital at. that
place. The work which he did during
the World War at this port resulted in
his receiving the highest commenda-
tons for the manner in which he pur-
sued his official duties and conducted
emergency welfare and relief work On
being placed on the inactive list at the
conclusion of the World War he re-
sumed his position with the American
Red Cross and was appointed director
OF military relief of the Potomac Di-
vision of that organization.
Department Comdr. Wood feels that
Director Imirie'S experience in case
WORK, his World War experience, to-
gether with his American Red Cross ex-
perience, his contact with the United
States Veteransta Bureau and general
familiarity with veterans claims and
american Legion work as a whole At
him for this important assignment. His
appointment diSpenseS with Service of.
ficer Ben L. Fuller, while. Welfare ON
Ger Charles Kohen and Child Welfare
Omcer Mary Esther Kolhos will remain
as department assistants In their re-
spective CAPACITIES, though immediate
and extended relief will be given
through the ONCE Of director Of welfare
and relief at department Headquarters
In the Transportation Building,
In order to outline policy for the
conduct OF the Office Of director Of well
fare and relief, Department Comdr.
Wood at the meeting Of the department
executive committee announced the ap-
polntment OF the following committee
In this connection: Charles Kohen.
chairman; Mrs. Mary Esther Kolhos, A.
N. Schroeder, Joseph J. Idler, H. A.
REM, F. G. Fraser and DIR. T. E. Jones.
National Executive Committeeman
Paul j. McGahau announced that sew
eral additional trophies and cups would
De donated in the near future for mem
Dership, athletic and other events con-
quoted under the auspices Of the local
department.. He announced the closing
OF the contest for the John r. Quinn
trophy on June Is, the winner Of which
nad not as yet been announced by ma
ClonaI headquarters, which entitled the
winner to first position in the annual
parade at Louisville, KY, this Fall. first
selection OF hotel Accommodations and
choice seats in the convention hail. The
next important event in which the local
department. is interested in. he said, is
the John @. Emery trophy ito be
awarded annually to that department
having the highest percentage Of mem
Dersnlp 80 days before the converting Of
the national convention as compared
with the average membership for the
four preceding years"
The local department believes 1t is
well up on the list in the Quinn trophy
contest, but is now going after the
Emery trophy, this contest closing Au-
gust 80. The local Legionnaires also
have a chance of winning the Hanford
MacNtder trophy which will be award
ed TO that department that has the
highest percentage of members for the
period October 20 to December 81 of
each year, as compared with the total
NUMBER OF members in the department
on December 81 Of the year then clos
ing"
Department CondR. Wood has been
appointed by the UHrict Commission
erS as chairman of Che patriotic COM
mlttee IN connection with the coming
Fourth OF July community celebration
at the Sylvan Theater
IN order to accommodate the large
number OF welfare cases daily at de-
partment headquarters the executive
committee authorized the enlargement
OF the present of1ices In the Transpor-
tation Building
The department executive committee
adopted a suggestion made by Depart
ment AdJt. Howard S. Fisk that the
nrSt prize in cash awarded the local
department in winning the first Ken
lucky Derby membership race on Nav
IL be converted into trophy, and au-
tnor1zed its purchase. Following the
winning OF this event Department Adit.
FISK communicated with officials at
n t, headquarters, and they. in
turn approving the idea, sent a blue
print OF handsome trophy bearing the
American Legion emblem, together with
horses head surrounded by a large
horseshoe, topped with an eagle. The
design is most attractive one and met
with universal approval Of members of
the committee. The trophy and
awards committee appointed by De-
partment Comdr. Wood, composed
OF Paul j. McGahan, chairman: Austin
S. Imirie and John Lewis Smith, will
prepare the inscription to go on the
base of the trophy.
A vote of thanks was extended to
Past Department Comdr. Watson
B. Miller chairman of the national re-