Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08

ever made of Washington better even than his
own "Athenaeum portrait"
But the selection of the official portrait,
though it has aroused art patriotic and human
interest throughout the world, is but frac-
tional part of the wonderfully organized work
of the Bicentennia1 Commission which assures
an historic celebration next year with such
universal participation, such wide variety OF
program and such Nation wide reconsecration
to the simple, sincere and devoted patriotism
of Washington as is unequaled in the annals
Of the world.
Two points must be strongly emphasized:
First-It will be Nationwide, even worldwide
celebration, in which every State city and
town-every individual, organization and insti-
tution-in the United States, together with
Americans and others in many foreign countries.
will participate. Second-It will last from
Washington's birthday anniversary, February
20, 1892, to Thanksgiving day, November "a,
1892, not only with great national celebrations
and general ION to Washington and Mount
Vernon" surge Of the people but with special
local celebrations on all holidays, anniversaries
or other days particularly associated with the
life of George Washington.
And third point might also be emphasized:
That never before in all the history of this
country has there been such a whole-country
observance to be ViSioned, planned, organiza-
ton to be built up and detailed arrangements
to be made. The task has been so wide-flung,
the range of the celebration so boundless, the
public in any one place has not had an oppor-
tunity to vision and measure the magnitude of
the program the efficient organization that
is behind it.
But an organization chart at the headquar-
tiers shows the general and specific educational
work of different departments well organized
and busiy engaged in the preparation and dis
tribution to educational institutions and to all
organizations patriotic, social, religious bust
ness, labor etc.-of literature, study courses
addresses, papers-an relating to George WASH
ington and his time.
There are important divisions for research,
pageants, womens activities the blind, arous-
ing the interest of the various nationalities.
Organization contacts are operating with pa
triotic societies, parent-teacher groups clubs
and other organizations, all educational institu-
tons and libraries. Assistance given to such
organizations includes pamphlet OF IL pro-
grams, papers, addresses and broadcasts, Wash
ington's photography, Washingtons chronology.
lantern slides, articles for organization publica-
tions, preparation of teachers training courses,
aid in nliteracy work and contests.
Juvenile activities include service for the
blind kindergartens and elementary schools
Boy Scouts Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls, games
and contests.
Among the most important functions of the
Bicentennial Commission special activities
that expanding constantly, such as motion
pictures of the life of George washington, art
loan exhibit participation by foreign govern
ments, collection of Washingtoniana, firms in
business continuously since the Colonial period,
oratorical and essay contests, tree paintings,
preparing an historical record.
The organization function at the national
headquarters here reaches out everywhere
through State commissions city and town COM
mittees patriotic and veterans societies con-
trolling patriotic shrines such as Mount YER
non, Wakefield, Yorktown, etc., churches and
religious groups fraternal labor, business, agri-
cultural civic and governmental.