Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-16
YORKTOWN BEGINS
HISTORIC PAGEANT
Governors of Original States,
French and British NotabIes
at Celebration.
Continued From First Page.) .

Continued From First Page.)
Nelson, war governor Of Virginia and
CORVALLIS headquarters at Yorktown,
officially opened the four-day celebra-
ton of the sesquicentennial Of the bat
tie that ended the revolution.
And as the British flag was drawn
aside to reveal the bronze bust, Maj.
Rochambeau, great great grandson by
adoption of the French officer who
fought with Washington at Yorktown,
whirled and came to full salute.
Ships Ride at Anchor.
On the blue waters Of the York River
scores Of United States battleship
cruisers and destroyers rode at anchor,
with two French cruisers at the head
of one of the long lines which stretched
both ways from the Yorktown water
front, which was besieged $50 years ago
by the Wooden French squadron Of De
GrasSe.
In Yorktown the Virginia Sesquicen-
tennial Commission dedicated q Vir-
ginia State memorial as a testimonial
of the affection of Colonial Virginia for
the mother country, the address Of
presentation being made by Gov. John
G. Pollard of Virginia. At the same
time a tablet was unveiled in honor of
Barton Gaspard De Gallain. an officer
of the Swiss guard who served at York
town in Rochambeau's brigade. The
address was by Senator Hiram Bing-
ham of Connecticut; the scene, the
! two-century-old Yorktown customs
house.
At the same time, out on the battle
field, the booming Of guns Saluted the
arrival of the Governors of the original
States, gather from up and down the
Atlantic seaboard to bring a word of
welcome to the thousands gathered here
from all parts of the country and to
witness a day OF pageantry depicting
important events in the history of each
of the Colonies.
Dedication Of Monument.
The important event today was the
dedication OF Colonial National Monu-
Nent, including the battlefield Of York
town, parts of Williamsburg, James,
town Island and Gloucester Point and
a connecting parkway. The monument,
which became a part OF the Nations
national park system. was dedicated by
the National Park Service, Department
Of the Interior.
Through establishment Of this mon
ument, the Federal Government has
undertaken to preserve for future gen.
erations the scenes in which some OF
the country'S most glorious history was
created. Here, amid surroundings which
today retain the quiet charm of early
Colonial days, independence really be-
gan for the United States.
In the peaceful, tree-sheltered lanes
and the beautiful brick-walled gardens
moved the men and women who in the
early days of the Colonies of the Vir-
GINA Peninsula laid the basis for the
Revolutionary War, for independence
and for the United States of today.
1t is at jamestown that American
Colonial life had its beginning and less
than 20 miles away at Yorktown, that
it came to a triumphant close with the
surrender of CORVALLIS and the begin
places are included in the new monu-
ment
Wilbur Delivers Address.
The address at the dedication service
was delivered by DR.. Ray Lyman VIII
bur, Secretary of the Interior, while
Horace M. Albright, director of the Ma
tional Park Service, presided.
The pageantry to be given this after
noon and tonight deals with a series
of 10 incidents taken from the history
of the original colonies, closing with a
scene depicting Thomas Jefferson read
ing the completed draft of the Decla-
ration of Independence to members OF
the Continental Congress, while mes
sengers set out to carry the tidings to
the colonies.
The task of preparing yorktown for
the celebration has involved the con-
struction of veritable city Of canvas
on the fields over which the American
and French allies pressed their drive
for American liberties $50 years ago.
Stands have been built to seat 22,500
spectators, flanking court of honor
designated by a series CT arches and 13
huge pylons flying the flags of the
original States, which contributed men
and arms to the siege of Yorktown.
Army and National Guard camps
have been set up housing 1000 troops
Several hundred soldiers moved to the
celebration grounds many weeks ago
and took over the building of roads,
mootpahts and docks, erection of head
quarters and exhibition tents and clear
ing of parking places for more than
"a 900 cars.
Exhibits in Tents.
Scores or large tents, many running
to lengths of more than 100 feet, house
exhibitions by bureaus of the Federal
Government and the various States,
restaurants and other concessions.
There are exhibits of Colonial homes
and goods, and the pageant will show
the customs of the times.
Even the Post Office Department
has been drawn upon to contribute to
the celebration. A large staff has been
! put to work in the little frame post
/ Office building at Yorktown, and an ex-
j tension Office has been opened on the
show grounds. Before the opening of
the pageant a total Of 1890 pieces of
mail, most of 1t the work of stamp col
| lectors. had been handled. j. H. Collier
and Charles F. Anderson were sent
here by the Post once Department to
take over the vastly increased work Of
! the Office.
/ The National Park Service has en-
tered large exhibit, the War Depart
ment another, and the Department OF
Agriculture and Interior Department
also are well represented.