Evening star., 1937-06-14
FLAGS BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATED HERE
WITH EXERCISES
Old Glory, 100 Years Old
Today, Honored in
Song and Story.
EVENTS TO BE ClIMAXED
BY CEREMONIAL TONIGHT
Meeting on East Fropt Of Capitol
to Include Pageant-Bloom
Will Speak Later.

Old Glory was 160 years old today.
and the birthday anniversary of the
flag was celebrated appropriately In
the Capital and throughout the
Nation.
Starting yesterday, flag ceremonies
continued today and will be climaxed
with meeting on the east front of
the Capitol at 7:3O o'clock tonight
The program tonight is under au-
spices Of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public and Woman's Relief Corps. It
will open with a concert by the Navy
Band. R. J. F. McElroy then will in
troduce John M. Kline, department
commander of the G. A. R., who will
preside. The ceremony OF presenting
the colors' will be in charge Of Percy
S. Parker. Comdr. Kline will present
Mrs. Mary e. Brown, department pres
ident of the Woman's Relief Corps.
Colonies to Be Portrayed.
A colorful feature will be pageant
in which the Daughters of Union Vet
erans will portray the l3 original
colonies.
The principal address will be de-
livered by Representative Sol Bloom
Of New, York. The speech will be
broadcast over Station VOL at $40.
A salute to the flag will be led by
Mrs. Genevieve Craig. Mrs. Helen
lie Mayne Ware will sing. Rev. John
c. Palmer will give the invocation, and
the benediction will be pronounced by
Rabbi Abram Simon.
Representative Bloom is chairman
of the United States Sesquicentennial
Commission, which is assisting in max
ing arrangements for the observance.
In front Of the huge flag on display
at Griffith Stadium, said to be the
largest United States emblem ever
fabricated, Representative Virginia
Jenckes of Indiana will speak at S pm.
Stretched Over Bleachers.
The flag, 1o2 by 1876 feet, was
stretched over the bleachers all after
noon. The ceremony at the stadium
is in charge of the John L. Burnett
Council, No. 4, Junior Order of United
American Mechanics.
Senator Josh Lee Of Oklahoma will
broadcast l5-minute Flag day ad-
dress over station WJsv at 10 pm.
This speech is sponsored by the Dis
trict Department OF the American
Legion.
Flags, large and small, were dis
played conspicuously throughout the
city and many organizations empha-
sized the patriotic event at luncheons
and other meetings
Some 1,500 attended an inspiring
flag ceremonial carried out by the
Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks at the Sylvan Theater on the
Washington Monument Grounds Sun
day afternoon.
Day Called Inspiration.
In a patriotic address Representa-
tive Matthew j. Merritt of New York
said:
"A Flag day in the United States
in the year 1887 is an inspiration to
all Of us. Old or young, rich or poor,
powerful or weak, we all assemble as
Americans. We forget strains Of
origin. we forget differences of re-
l1gious or political belief We see a
single f1ag-one emblem that pro-
claims our national union, our history
OF effort and Of service, our hope of
continued freedom and progress"
The address was preceded by
drama depicting graphically the his
tory OF the flag. A series of tableaux
was presented under the direction of
John D. Fitzgerald, past exalted ruler.
The evolution of the American flag
from several emblems used at the
beginning Of the Republic was shown
The Elks Boys Band gave concert.
John E. Lynch presided. D. j. La
porte, acting chaplain Of the lodge,
gave the invocation.
Flag day celebrates the anniversary
Of the act passed by the Continental
Congress on June IA, 1777 adopting
the Stars and Stripes as the new
Nations emblem.