Evening star., 1932-11-24

D
Father of His Country today becomes
history.
In the spirit that was its intended
theme as it was launched by President
Hoover and the highest dignitaries OF
the Government on February %. the
celebration in honor of George Wash
ington ends while the Nation observes
the feast of Thanksgiving.
The period of reverent homage to the
first President on the occasion OF the
2OOth anniversary of his humble birth
at Wakefield, on Popes Creek, Va,
reaches its conclusion with no spec
tauclar central demonstration or public
jubilation. The curtain falls as Ameri-
cans everywhere voice their gratitude
in church pew and at home hearthsidc
for the heritage handed down to them
by a great American.
With the official conclusion Of the
period of tribute authorized and desig-
mated by Congress, chapter is added
to American annals that is unequaled
in scale in all history in doing honor to
national hero in this or any other
country.
Nine Months Celebration.
Nine months and two days long, 1t
represents the longest single celebration
of its kind ever held: and, extending
into every town and hamlet in the
United States and into lands beyond
the seas. it goes on record as the most
far-reaching and comprehensive. Mil
lions of people throughout the world
rallied to the call of the United States
George Washington Bicentennial Com
mission to commemorate the first true
American, that future generations OF
American citizens may live according to
the example and preceptS of his ex-
alted life and character, and thus per-
petuate the American Republic"
At the invitation of the national
group, local Bicentennial commissions
were organized in every State, and more
than 100000 separate committees es-
tablished to convey to every native son
the patriotic message. For the Capt.
tails part in the observance Congress
authorized the expenditure OF 100000
of municipal funds.
Last Official Act.
The last official act of the District
Bicentennial Commission within the
celebration period was the placing of a
floral tribute at the tall shaft immor-
talizing the memory of George Wash
ington, which took place at 1915 O'Clock
this morning.
Participating in this ceremony were
DR.. Cloyd Heck Marvin, DR.. George c.
Havenner. Thomas P. Littlepage, Mrs.
Virginia White Speel, Clarence Aspin-
wall, Dr. George F. Bowerman, Isaac
Cans, John H. Cowles. E. c. Graham,
j. Leo Kolb, Edgar c. Snyder, Gen.
Anton Stephan. Judge James A. Cobb,
w. w. Everett, Mrs. Phillip Sidney
Smith and Gov. Thomas Campbell, all
members of the commission Others
present included Mrs. Fulton r. Lewis,
Mrs. Marie Moore Forrest and Mrs.
Cans.
When President Hoover, speaking
from the roStrum in the House of Rep
resentatives on Washington's birthday
anniversary. delivered to q joint session
of Congress eulogy of the Nation S
founder he recalled the prophecy Of
Daniel Webster, made February %, 1882,
commemorating the centennial of
Washington'S birth, that "a hundred
years hence other disciples of Wash
ington will celebrate his birth with no
commemorate It."
His prophecy, the President said, was
borne out, his hope fulfilled.
As the Nations leaders assembled be-
meath the Capitol dome to pay tribute
to Washington, thousands milled about
the plaza outside to participate in exer-
ciseS that would formally launch the
gigantic celebration on its way. Mil
lions more, employing a device unknown
and unthought of in Was hington's day,
listened in" as two national broadcast
ing chains radioed the program over
national and international networks
The national anthem was sung simul-
taneously all over the United States and
abroad through the medium of the
radio, led by choir of 1900 voices
assembled on the Capitol steps to
launch the program.
Community Celebrations
From this point on the celebration
was designed to penetrate into the in
dividual communities, with exercises
and functions planned under the lead
ership of the National Bicentenn1al
Commission to sustain the 'demonstra-
ton through to its termination. The
intent of the commission was to divorce
from the American mind the idea of q
worlds fair or q geographically CEN
tralized event.
Co operative Bicentennial groups
were formed in every State, city and
town, and among the civic, fraternal
and religious bodies were organized
committees to see that every walk OF
life was represented in the celebration
To Postmaster General Brown is given
credit for assisting Representative Sol
Bloom of New York, associate and only
surviving director of the national COM
mission, in overcoming one of the earlier
problems Of the program-that Of con-
tacting the greatest number OF people
as soon as possible. A list Of 49,063
post Offices was placed at the disposal
of the commission, and general order
was issued by the Postmaster General
for cooperation on. their part in giving
such information as would be asked OF
them.
Thus, by obtaining from the coun-
trys postmasters up-to-date informa-
ton on every community in the coun-
try by the use of missionaries, the
commission set In motion the machin-
cry which Congress appropriated more
than q million dollars to establish.
Through the postmasters the nation
al body obtained the names OF local
ofYicialS. all organisations and o0cers,