The Wrangell sentinel., 1929-07-04
Fourth of July
 Duly Observed

morning the sun shone and hopes went high. Weather experts had been predicting fine weather and others, eager for some summer warmth and sunshine to offset the gloom of the past week, had faith to some extent. Before the celebration proper began, the conviction was forced on everyone, however, that Wrangell faced a decidedly damp Fourth and the only thing to do was to make the best of it, and the ardor of the celebration showed the usual fine Wrangell spirit which even oc- casional heavy downpours could not quite extinguish.
 The Fourth really began the night of the third when the annual benefit Pr. A. dance was given at the gym. The decorations were of a patriotic nature and space at the back of the hall was reserved for small tables where a committee served lunch. The holiday spirit of the big crowd present and the excellent music in sured the dancers a good time and the Pr. A. a satisfactory sum for the gym.
 The parade this morning formed promptly at the hour set and fol- lowed the line of march as outlined, despite the rain. Led by nurses from the Wrangell General Hospital in uniform and F. H. Gray, who repre- sented the Sons of Veterans, in their respective cars, the boys band fol- lowed. After that came the Red men, a boosters division consisting of boys carrying signs urging the on- locker to boost for the boys band, new school, the baseball. team and other civic enterprises, the fire truck, decorated private cars, mem bers of the A. N. B. carrying a flag, the Native band, the Alaska Native Sisterhood in white, with blue badges and red hats, school children, baby carriages and Owen Swenson with his red car, the Spirit of 1880, bringing up the rear. Those march ing were rain-drenched when they reached the end of march outside the Redmen Hall but deserve great cred it for the fact that the parade was was still practically intact.
 The program which was given at the hall a little later opened with the singing of America by the gath ering, after which Jack Gurr read the Declaration of Independence. Then followed the singing by a mixed chorus of America, the Beauti- ful, a short address by Mrs. John F. Sippel, president of the c. F.W.C., Our Colors by the chorus, and the address of the day by Staff-Captain Joseph Acton. The Star Spangled Banner by the audience closed the program. Dr. R. J. Diven presided at this meeting which had an unusu- ally good attendance and added much to the occasion by his appro- priate introduction of the speakers.
 Mrs. Sippel who was introduced as the head of the largest organiza- tion of homemakers in the world ex- pressed her pleasure at being privi- legged to spend a Fourth in Alaska She spoke of the celebrations in her own state, Maryland, and visits to Fort McHenry where the Star Span gled Banner was written. Mrs. Sip pei stated that she belonged to the ninth generation of a family that had settled in Maryland and that had been identified with every war that this country has fought. She spoke briefly of her responsibilities as head of an organization of over three million women, including the mem bership of 68 foreign clubs, territo- rial clubs and the state organiza- tions, and announced her willing ness to help them. But how can I help unless I know their problems?" she asked, and stated that in her trip across the country she wished to
 learn about them q am glad that women are alive to their civic and home duties," she said, land their duties as citizens" She congratu- lated WrangeIl on the library of 4000 books and expressed her conviction that the young people of the commit nifty could not fail to be inspired by the pictures of Washington, Lincoln, Wilson and Foch which hang there. In speaking further of the club work she stated that the G. F. W. c. was formed in 1890. "We are non-secta- rian and non-political," she ex-