Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-04-26
Statue Is Unveiled To pioneer
Mothers.


early trails of the country, the National
Society Daughters of the American Revo-
luton last Friday afternoon assembled at
Bethesda, this county, for the unwilling of
the twelfth and last Madonna of the
Trails" statue, Approximately 5000 per-
sons attended the exercises.
The Madonna" monuments have been
erected in each of the twelve States
through which the early trails ran in the
trek to the West Of the pioneers. One
statue in each State has been erected
through the efforts of the National Old
Trail Roads Association and the National
Old Trails Committee of the D. A. R.
The exercises started with a concert by
the First Tank Group Band Of Camp Meade.
followed by the invocation. given by the
Rev. Clarence Prentice Parker. Led by
the Children OF the American Revolution.
the gathering then joined in recitine the
Salute to the Flag" which was followed
by the Star Spangled Banner"
Mrs. Enoch G. Johnson. Maryland State
chairman OF the national old trails COM
mittee of the d. A. r. and a resident of
Bethesda, welcomed the gathering to Be-
thesda and promised that the monument
would be cared for with loving care.
Mrs. Daniel Mershon Garrison presented
Mrs. Alfred J. Brosseau. pr esident general
of the D. A. R., who recounted the hard
ships and self-sacrifice of the early pioneer
mothers who followed OK carts along the
early trails. Mrs. Brosseau also paid
tribute to the efforts of the men and
women who have made the accomplish
ment of the first nationwide shrine
possible.
Mrs. Brosseau was followed by Judge
Harry S. Truman. president of the National
Old Trails Road Association. which has
worked in conjunction with the D. A. R. in
erecting the monuments. Judge Truman
also paid tribute to the pioneer mothers
and to the persons who have worked for
the completion Of the project.
Walter R. Tuckerman, who presented the
site on which the monument stands. facing
the county building in Bethesda at Mont
gomery and Wisconsin avenues. made the
presentation of the deed to the property,
which was accepted for the D. A. R. by
Mrs. John Trigg Moss. national cha 'rman
of the old trails committee. Mrs. Moss in
turn presented the deed to Mrs. Brosseau,
10 be placed in the archives of the society
Mrs. Moss delivered the dedicatory ad-
dress and reminded the listeners that they
must keep alive the spirit of the pioneer
mothers. even though they need not suffer
the same hardships. She commended the
monument to the care of the people Of
Bethesda and Maryland and to the local
d. A. R. chapters.
Former Postmaster General Harry S.
New accepted the monument for the peo-
pie of Bethesda and Mrs. Robert A. Welsh.
Maryland State regent. for the Maryland
D. A. r.; Mrs. Franklin C. Getzendanner,
regent of Col. Tench Tilghman Chapter. of
Bethesda, accepted the monument for Col.
Tilghman Chapter and the D. A. K. Of
Montgomery County.
The planting of a sequel tree. the gift
of the California D. A. R.. was postponed
because Mrs. James Hobart Dorsey. Mary
land State chairman of conservation. wa,
unable to be present.
Mtlinr oho; ~ kn Ia
thesda Chamber of Commerce committee
which was augmented by several count!
organizations. spoke briefly and invited tn
delegates to return at future day TO SCI
that the people of Bethesda will have care,
well for the gift.
Mrs. William H. Talbot past chairman
of the national old trails committee, I'm
yelled the monument. assisted by E. Win
sor Offutt. Jr.. and M. Wilson Offutt 3rd
grandchildren of one of the pioneers.
Preceding the unwilling. the regents O
the twelve States in which monument
have been erected. accompanied by pag e
carrying their State flags. advanced I
the center Of the platform and recite
the inscriptions which had been placed O
the bases of the monuments in their re
spective States. The flags were then eroupe
about the monument for the unv'5 ling.
The State regents are Mrs. Robert A
Welsh Maryland Mrs. N. Rowland Brown
Pennsylvania; Mrs. William H. Waugh
West Virginia ; Mrs. Herbert Backus. Ohio
Mrs. James B. Crankshaw. Indiana: Mr.
William j. Sweeney. Illinois Mrs. Lo
Sanders. vice regent, Missouri; Mrs. r.
Campbell, Kansas; Mrs. Justus r. FrieC
line. Colorado: Mrs. Frank E. Andrew
New Mexico; Mrs. Byron Moffitt. ArizonI
and Mrs Theodore J. Hoover. California.
The statue stood revealed as hug
figure Of pioneer mother clutchine bah
in her arms and with another hanging I
her skirts. A cheer burst from the gather
ing as the canvas covering slipped frOr
the figure.
William tyler Page. clerk Of the Hous
OF Representatives. recited THE Amer
cans Creed" The Denediction was give
by the Rev. James Shera Montgomer,
chaplain Of the House of Representatives