Evening star., 1935-09-08
PARADE TO MARCH
WITH TORCHL|GHTS
Historical Pageant Also to
Be Part of Constitution
Day Exercises.

A torchlight parade, followed by an
historical pageant. depicting the great
events In the progress Of constitutional
freedom, will feature the Constitution
day exercises being sponsored by the
District Department of the American
Legion the night of September II.
Nearly lis organizations will be
represented in the line of march, which
will form on Fourth street, just south
of Constitution avenue, at 1880 pm:
In addition to regular marchers
there will be scores of floats and
bands. The parade distance will be
nine-tenths of mile, and will re-
quire one hour from start to finish.
approximately 10000 seats will be
available to spectators to witness the
historical pageant on the Monument
grounds. 1t will feature scenes memo
rializing the ratification of the Con-
stitution, the signing of the English
Magma Charta and the Mayf1ower
pact, besides picturesque ballets. in
terpretative of the constitutional and
colonial eraS.
No Parade Tagging.
Maj. Gen. Amos A. Fries, retired
general chairman of the celebration
program, promises "quick step" pa
rade along Constitution avenue to
the grandstand to be erected at Six
teenth street. Formations will be
close up to prevent tagging.
Immediately following disbanding of
the parade. the pageant will be staged
in the Sylvan Theater. Three thou
sand reserve seats are to be put on
sale at 25 cents each.
Chairman William N. Morrell Of
the Parade Committee announced
formation plans were already under
way.
Col H. S. Kimberly. chairman OF
the Pageant Committee, has been
designated by Gen. Fries to arrange
for securing hundreds Of pine torches
for Illuminating the line of march.
Trophies will be presented to the
best marching units in the parade, the
finest musical unit, the best uniformed
group. In the junior musical repre-
sensation the Sons of Legionnaires will
compete.
Colors to Be Carried.
The colors of each group will be
carried at the. head of the column.
There will be no nassing OF colors,
it was said.
A picturesque feature of the pa
rade will be 1000 women from the
General Federation Of Woman's Clubs.
Each will carry an American flag.
Their ranks will be almost solid, ac-
centuating the display of flags.
1t was decided yesterday to move
the hour for the starting of the pa
rade from to 7:30 pm. for the con-
venience of marchers who have to go
home to change into uniform. Be-
cause an American Legion convention
is to be held outside Washington the
night of the parade, it was decided
that Legionnaires unable to attend
in regular uniforms would be per-
mitted to march in white shirts and
trousers and overseas caps.
Pageant to Take Hour.
The pageant following the parade
will not take more than an hour to
produce. A fireworks display will oc-
cupy about 20 minutes thereafter.
There will be a concentration of fire
works to light up the entire scene.
r. M. Ham, director of safety of
The District Motor Club, who is also
vice chairman of the Parade Com
mittee, will extend invitations to
Legion posts outside Washington to
participate in the parade. He is also
chairman of special committee to
censor all floats, so that each will rep
resent only patriotic themes or char
acters in keeping with the spirit OF
the parade. Ham has ruled out ad-
Vertising matter.
AS chairman of the Church Co.
operation Committee. Mrs. w. E.
Ochiltree, president of the American
War Mothers, yesterday issued an ap-
peal to all members of the clergy to
stress the importance of Constitution
day to their congregations at todays
church services.
Miss Martha Mcclure of this city,
es member Of the National Council,
Women's National Republican Club.
will be one Of the sponsors of the
clubs two-day Constitution day cele-
bration in New York City, it was an
nounced here.