Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-25
VALLEY FORGE GETTING READY
FOR PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
Historic Site Being Groomed for First
Memorial Speech Ever Given
There by Nations Leader.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
| PHILADELPHIA. May 25 CN.ANA)
Valley Forge is getting ready to re-
| ceive President Hoover
Over the rolling expanse Of the Ma
| tons most famous camping ground
| sweeps the hum of moving machines
| The sweet smell OF fresh-cut grass
mingles with the pungent odor OF the
pines which crown the hilltop. From
| enc corner can be heard the staccato
/ notes OF hammer and saw as they beat
| out the last few bars OF their rounde-
| lay.
Chosen as the setting for the presi-
| Dental Memorial day address this year
the first time In It's century and a
half Of history that this particular
| honor has befallen 1.-THE park Is be-
ing groomed and trimmed and dressed
! as never before.
Site Being Groomed.
Jerome Shea, superintendent OF the
l 500-acre Revolutionary camp site
\ Tho has lived OH its border since 1905
ia" ~ years, has doubled his usual
foh,e OF 20 men, and every one is busy
froAl morning till night
VA lille The tractor mower Is driven
Over\th grassy slopes. others are put
ting 1.-The finishing touches on the
broad rooted platform erected as the
speaker stand and which will he the
center "a the Memorial day activities.
This "A 'attorm will seat 1850 guests.
including members OF the Presidents
cabinet, CAV. Clifford Pinchot and his
cabinet, various Congressman. Judges.
State legislA 'ors and others. It adjoins
the old Mon Is Stephens house on the
site OF Gen. "a untingtons quarters.
5ONNO0 Expected.
Here the PreA ident will stand. facing
an audience that will cover the hill
sides which form a natural amphithe-
alter at this point. More than $4,000
people are expected to dot those slopes.
Fully 200 900 coulA' be accommodated
and reached by the' amplifiers, accord
ing to Col. William A.. March. secretary
OF the Valley Forge Park Commission
beautiful spot is this. from which
the 1891 leader of thA Nation will pay
tribute TO its first leadeA, the great gen.
eral who suffered here with his hand
ful OF chilled and starviiAy soa6liers dur
ing the bitter Winter Of 1N77-7S.
Topping the hill to thet north stands
the washington Memorial Chapel A
hundred yards TO the west SIS the gran
lite spire known as the Watsl man Mon
ument placed there by the Daughters
OF the Revolution In memory a. the SOL
OiCiS wiz dicu hL the chIilp SlhS, Lieut..
John Waterman Is the only soldier
whose grave WAS marked.
Beyond. mile or So to the vast and
southwest. lie the tree-covered' slopes
OF Mount Misery and Mount JOY Half
way down the side of Mount joy Is Fort
Washington. the little artillery rea0ubt
from which will be fired the presid en-
tial salute of 81 guns. Completing uhe
Semi-circle stands the Washington Me-
mortal Arch, which President Hoover
and his party will pass when they enter
the park.
Rich In History.
Rich In soul-stirring history Is this
green acreage on the right bank Of the
Schuylkill River. And pilgrims from
every State and from many countries
abroad walk along its paths every year.
Twenty, thirty forty thousand Is no I'M
common number for a Sunday or holi-
day in good weather Fifty thousand
have been known to visit Valley Forge
in one day.
One little grove has been used as q
Eicknicking place since 1926, when
gkoup of survivors of the Revolution
gathered there-men, perhaps, who had
known 1t as their camp during that
memorable Winter and Spring.