The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-11-24
THE CLOSE OF THE BICEN-
TENNIAL CELEBRATION

The worldwide George Washing
ton celebration was brought to an
official close yesterday with Thanks
giving services in the churches in hon.
or of the Father of his country. The
United States George Washington BIZ
centennial Commission reports that
Thanksgiving services were held by
the churches of all denominations in
every city in America and in the large
cities abroad.
For the past nine months, since
February 22,, millions of people in all
corners of the world have participated
in what was the greatest celebration
of history in honor of National hero.
The United States George Washing
ton Commissioners now engaged COM
piling retailed records of the cele-
bration. While these cannot be avail
able for several months, the highlights
of the celebration are here set down.
Active work of the Commission,
with President Hoover as chairman,
and Congressman Sol Bloom at asso-
ciate director, began some two and a
half years ago. Plans were mapped
out for nationwide and worldwide
celebration and not for a worlds fair
or a geographically centralized event.
Cooperative Bcentennial commits
sions were appointed in every state,
city and practically every town of
America. Besides, committees were
appointed among civic, fraternal and
religious bodies as well as in the
schools.
More than 100000 separate and dis
tinct Bicentennial Commissions and
committees functioned actively during
the celebration period.
A conservative estimate by the
United States George Washington
Bicentennial Commission claims that
more than one million different Bicen-
tennial Celebration programs took
place during this nine months period.
The United States Commission has
distributed, without charge, more than
II million pieces of literature in as
sisting local committees. Historical
pamphlets, plays and pageants, music,
educational pamphlets, ETC., have been
published and distributed from the
Commissions headquarters in Wash
ington.
Nationwide contests, in the ele-
mentary schools, high schools and in
situations of higher learning have
been conducted by the Commission.
More than two million American boys
and girls have participated in these
contests.
The Commission has distributed to
the schools of America more than one
million large-size autographed copies
of the Gilbert Stuart Athenaeum por-
trait of George Washington.
Every library in America received
a copy of the Commissions special
flag chart showing all the flags in the
Revolution. Every Post Office has re-
ceived a large poster of Wakefield,
Washington's birthplace.
More than one million copies of the
George M. Cohan song, "Father of
the Land We Love-" were distributed.
This song was written for the Com
mission by Mr.. Cohen as his personal
tribute to our First President.
A special Bicentennial quarter dol
lar was minted and put in general
circulation. A special medal was also
minted which the Commission awarded
for meritorious service in connection
with the celebration.
Our Post Office issued series of
twelve George Washington stamps to
commemorate the celebration.
The Defnitive Writings of George
Washington are now being compiled
and published. This is the most COM
prehensive undertaking on George
Washington ever attempted. Twenty
five volumes will be required to COM
plete this work. i. 49,.
Wakefield, the birthplace of George
Washington, has been restored and
turned over to the Government as a
national shrine. fiCr 81. ,a:
More than thirty million George
Washington memorial trees have been
planted since February %.
The Commission collected practi
cally all of the famous George Wash
ington portraits which have been ex-
hibited in the Corcoran Gallery of
Washington, D. c., during the cele-
bration. This is the first time that