Evening star., 1936-09-20
G. A. R. SESSIONS
OPEN TODAY With
TRIBUTE TO DEAD
Services to Be Held in Many
Churches-900 Vet
Grams Here.
WOODRiNG TO ADDRESS
Meeting OF 6 GROUPS
Grand Review to Be Staged We'd
nesday May Be Last-150,000
in Line II Years Ago.

comrades Tor WnOm taps mas sounded,
nearly 900 veterans of the Grand
Army Of the Republic are devoting to-
day to memorial services at the be-
ginning of their SEVENTEEN national
encampment.
On Wednesday morning the few
hundred veterans, ranging in age
from 81 to 103 years, will march and
ride in what may be their last grand
review along the same Avenue which
II years ago was a rolling river of
blue from dawn to dusk for two days
as 100000 officers and men of the
Armies Of the Potomac, Tennessee and
Georgia marched before President
Andrew johnson in celebration Of the
close of four years of civil combat.
So that Washington may pay proper
tribute to the remnant of the Grand.
Army, President Roosevelt has signed
an executive order closing the Gov.
ernment departments for the parade.
The District government and tn 4
public schools also will close theii
doors for the morning. The Cornmis
sioners have asked that District resi1
dents display the United States fialt
at their homes and places of business
during the encampment, opening to
day and continuing through the week.
Although the reunion program comel
to formal close Thursday, display OF
the flag through Saturday has been
requested.
Arrive From All Sections.
Led by their commander in chief,
Obey Nelson of Slater, Iowa, veterans
from all parts of the United States,
accompanied by the members of five
allied and auxiliary organizations, be-
gan arriving in Washington yesterday.
Special services we're to be held
this morning in many of Washing
tons churches, with special patriotic
services in honor of the Grand Army
men themselves arranged in Luther
Place Memorial Church, Foundry
Methodist Church and Calvary Bap-
tist Church.
Today's program will reach a cli-
max at 8 o'clock tonight, when the
members of six organizations will
meet Jointly in the new Government
Auditorium to hear Acting Secretary
OF War Woodring make the principal
address at the annual memorial serv-
ices.
Other high lights of today's pro-
gram will be the dedication of a me-
mortal tablet on the spot where Presi-
dent Lincoln stood under fire on the
parapet of Fort Stevens in the Sum-
mer Of 1864; pilgrimage by the
Daughters of Union Veterans Of the
Civil War to the Tomb of Unknown
Soldiers of the Civil War in Arling-
ton National Cemetery at $3.50 pm,
and an impressive open-air service at
the Peace Cross in the grounds of
Washington Cathedral, Mount st. Al
bans, at 3:45 pm.
George w. Offutt, general chair
man Of the Citizens Committee
named by the District Commission
ers to arrange for the encampment,
will preside at tonight's memorial
service. Music will be provided by
the United States Army Band. Rev.
Joseph e. Gedra will ask the invoca-
ton and benediction will be pro-
nounced by Rev. Howard E. Snyder.
Floral tributes will be placed by
Comdr. Nelson, Mrs. Mary j. Love.
national president of the Woman's
Relief Corps; Miss Wynnye William
son, national president of the Ladies
OF the G. A. R.; Mrs. Agnes Upell
Boyce, national president, Daughters
OF the Union Veterans of the Civil
War; Richard F. Locke, commander
in chief, Sons Of Union Veterans of
the Civil War, and Mrs. Stella B.
Owen. national president, Auxiliary to
the Sons Of Union Veterans of the
Civil War.
Tributes to the Dead.
Tributes to deceased members of
the G. A. r. will be paid by Rev. j.
King Gibson, chaplain-in- of the
G. A. R.; Mrs. Anna Anschutz, ma
tional chaplain, Woman's Relief
Corps; Miss Gertrude M. Walbridge,
national chaplain, Ladies of the G.
A. R.; Mrs. Sarah Hatfield, national
chaplain, Daughters of Union Vet
Grams; Rev. Arthur M. Saule, national
chaplain, Sons of Union Veterans,
and Mrs. Anna Byron, national chap
lain, Auxiliary to the Sons OF Union
Veterans.
The principal address at the OPEN
air services at Washington Cathedral
will be delivered by Right Rev. James E.
Freeman, Episcopal Bishop of Wash
ington. Comdr Nelson and Chap
lain-in-Chief Gibson will participate
In the service, which Is to be broad
cast over national networks. Music
will be provided by the United States
Marine Band and the Cathedral Choir
OF men and boys, beginning with q
preliminary sacred concert at 3:l5.
Canon Raymond L. Wolven, chaplain
to the Bishop Of Washington, will con-
duct the service. The general public
| Is invited.
The Fort Stevens monument has
been erected in honor of the G. A. r.
It Is in the form Of q large bronze
tablet on mosaic base and shows
the plan Of the fort at the time of
the battle. The monument Is near
Thirteenth and Quackenbos streets.
In the absence Of Arno B. Cammerer,
director Of the National Parks Service.
the monument will be accepted on
behalf Of the Federal Government by
c. Marshall Finnan, superintendent
Of National Capital Parks. Music will
be provided by the 3rd Cavalry Band
from Fort Myer. Va.
From Fort Stevens the daughters
will go to Arlington Cemetery for the
exercises at the tomb Of the many un-
known Civil War dead buried there in
q common grave. This service will
mark the seventieth anniversary of
the dedication Of the tomb. Mrs.
Boyce, national president of the