Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-15
THOUSANDS JOIN
IN FLAG SERVICE
ON CAPITOL STEPS
CoIorfuI Spectacle Presented
Under Auspices of G. A. R.
and Women'S Relief Corps.
GEN. CROSBY EXPLAINS
MEANING OF EMBLEM
Symbol of Strong and Proud Ma
ton, Still Charitable and Not
Domineering, He Says.

A crowd of several thousand people
Joined in impressive Flag day exercises
on the east steps of the Capitol last
night, sponsored by the Grand Army
of the Republic and the Women's Re
nef Corps. The community center de-
partment OF the public SCHOOLS also CO.
operated. The occasion was featured by
addresses, exercises depicting the his.
tory OF the American flag and patriotic
music
Inc program, getting under way al
twilight, presented a colorful spectacle
Besides hundreds of persons seated in
reserved seats Immediately in front OF
the east steps, additional hundreds wit
messed the ceremony from the grass
PACK on the east lawn of the Capitol
AmpunerS were used to enable those at
a distance to hear.
Gen. Crosby Speaks,
Gen. Herbert B. Crosby, Commissioner
OF the District, the first speaker. after
calling attention to the official adoption
OF the American flag by act of Congress
1913 years ago, declared:
Today, all over the Nation, we are
paying homage to that flag. Its 48 stars
inolcate the union of 48 States in a
NaCion Inc most powerful the world has
ever known. AS the Stars in its flae
the Nation. e4O VI
To the world it is a symbol of a
young Nation grown strong, but not
oomneerlng; grown proud, but still
charitable; 1t guarantees equality of
opportunity for all races, all colors. ali
sectS, all creedS." ~''
In his Introductory remarks, the
commissioner said that 'in no CITY is
IL more bef1tting to hold Flag day exer-
clSes than in the Nations Capital. nor
could a more appropriate place be Sc
Iected IN the city than the steps of the
Representative William p Holadav of
!IllnolS, In a brief address, stressed the
Importance of patriotic sentiment and
pointed out the advantages had by the
citizens of this Nation.
Glory Of Flag and Nation.
Referring to Flag day and the sig
nlncance OF the American flag, Mr..
aolaoay declared: The glory of the
flag is circumscribed by the virtues of
the Nation, and criticized those who
would salute the flag today and forget
the best interests of the Nation TO-
morrow"
An impressive demonstration depict
ing the history of the United States flag
and how its stars were added as the
additional States joined the Union was
given by the Girl Scouts. Miss z.
Helen Temple, department patriotic in
Structor of the Women'S Relief Corps
and chairman of the committee In
charge Of last nights exercises, gave an
historical sketch of the flag and Girl
Scout would march forward with the
nag Of State as that States name was
called by Miss Temple in the order in
which 1t entered the Union as a State.
A nag demonstration also was given
by the Defenders of Old Glory" who
marched down to the center of the
steps to the accompaniment of music
by the United States Marine Band and
stood at attention while holding the
flags. Women in this demonstration
hanked the Girl Scouts on either side,
presenting a picture of the flags of all
the States surrounded by the United
States flags. The various branches of
the military service were represented
by the men in uniform.
Young Calls Exercises to Order.
The exercises were called to order
by F. j. Young, commander of the De-
partment of the Potomac, Grand Army
of the Republic. This was followed by
the presentation of colors. The salute
to the nag and pledge of allegiance by
the assembly came next. Invocation
was delivered by Rev. DR.. H. Denning-
ton Hayes, pastor of ST. Marks Luther
an Church. who took the place of Rev.
Homer j. Councillor on the program.
A number Of patriotic selections were
rendered by the Mckinley High School
Glee Club, led by Mrs. Belle Thomp-
son, director. Subsequently, the Nc
Kinley Glee Club Quartet rendered a
number of selections. This was fol-
lowed by a vocal selection by Fred
Brooks, s-year-old mascot Of the glee
club.
The audience joined in singing
America" accompanied by the Marine
Band, and the latter played accompani-
ment for Dorothy Sherman Pierson
when she sang THE Star Spangled
Banner" The band also rendered sew
eral other selections, concluding with
THE Star Spangled Banner" Bene-
diction was said by Rev. Francis J.
Hurney.
Fifty-fOur Organizations TO Join.
Comdr. Young Of the G. A. r., Mrs.
Della L. O'Brten, department president
of the Women's Relief Corps, and the
following committee directed the fete /:
E. Helen Temple, chairman; Mai. Gen.
John l.. Glen, Addie Hickman, Eliza
beth Hickman, Elizabeth D. Shaw,
Jennie Lawrence Hamilton and Marie
Moore Forrest.
Some 81 organizations are to par
ticipate in an elaborate flag ritualistic
service under the auspices of the Wash
ington Lodge of Elks in Central High
School this afternoon at o'clock. The
public is invited to attend.
Three parades will be held as pre-
liminarieS TO the exercises. One, headed
by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, will
start at Sixteenth street and Columbia
road, led by the 116-piece band and
drum corps. The second will start from
Eleventh street and Columbia road,
headed by the Costello Post Drum and
Bugle Corps, and the third will start
from Fourteenth street and Park read,
with the members of the Elks' Lodge,
headed by their 55-piece Boys Band.
The three parades will join at the
school for the exercises. The latter
will be featured by the Elks' flag ritu-
alistic service, music and addresses.