Smyrna times., 1932-11-30
BI-CENTENNIAL
SERVICES END
Thanksgiving Services Held
by Churches of All Denomi-
nations in America
GREATEST CELEBRATION

brought to an official close last
Thursday with Thanksgiving ser
vices in the churches in honor of
the Father Of His Country The
United States George Washington
Bicentennial Commission reports
that Thanksgiving services were
held by the churches of all denomi-
nations in every city in America
and in the large cities abroad. For
the past nine months, since Feb
ruary p, millions of people in all
corners Of the world have partici-
pated in what was the greatest
celebration Of history in honor of a
National hero. The United States
George Washington Bicentennial
Commission is now busily engaged
compiling detailed records Of the
/ Celebration. While these cannot
be available for several months,
the highlights Of the Celebration
are here set down. Active work
Of the Commission, with President
/ Hoover as Chairman and Con
f gresham Sol Bloom as Associate
Director, began some two and a
half years ago. Plans were map
4 ped out for nationwide and
worldwide celebration and not for
a worlds fair or a geographically
centralized event Cooperative Bi-
centennial commissions were ap-
pointed IN every State, city and
practically every town of America
Besides, committees were appoint
ed among civic, fraternal and relig-
ious bodies as well as in the
4 schools. More than 100000 separ-
ate and distinct Bicentennial Com
missions and committees function
ed actively during the Celebration
period. A conservative estimate
by the United States George Wash
ington Bicentennial Commission
claims that more than one million
different Bicentennial Celebration
programs took place during this
nine months period. The United
States Commission has distributed
without charge, more than IL mil
lion pieces of literature in assist
ing, local committees Historical
pamphlets, plays and pageants,
music, educational pamphlets, etc,
have been published and distributed
from the Commission headquart-
ers in Washington. Nationwide
educational contests, in the ele-
mentary schools, high schools and
institutions 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 used
in the Revolution. Every Post Of
fee has received large poster of
Wakefield, Washington's birth
/ place. More than one million cop
les of the George NJ. Cohen song,
Father Of the Land We Love"
were distributed. This song was
written for the Commission by Mr.
Cohan as his personal tribute to
our First President. "A special Bi-
centennial quarter dollar was mint
ed and put in general circulation.
A special medal was also minted
which the Commission awards for
meritorious service in connection
with the Celebration. Our Post
Office issued a series of twelve
George Washington stamps to COM
memorate the Celebration. The
Dehnitive Writings of George
Washington are now being COM
piled and published. This is the
most comprehensive undertaking
on George Washington ever at
tempted. Twenty-Five volumes will
be required to complete this work.
Wakefield, the birthplace of George
Washington, has been restored and
turned over to the Government as
a national shrine More than thirty
million George Washington mem
orial trees have been planted since
February p. The Commission col
lected practically all of the famous
George Washington portraits which
have been exhibited in the Cor
coran Gallery of Art of Washing
ton, ID. G., during the Celebration.
This is the first time that these
famous portraits have been gather
ed under one roof. Abroad, seven
\ ty-eight countries have participat-
ed in the Bicentennial Celebration.
This was a spontaneous movemen,
without official invitation from our
Government. Twenty-six foreign
cities have named streets, parks
and squares for George Washing
ton. In Germany alone four cities
have renamed thoroughfares for
George Washington. The Govern
ment of Poland issued special