Evening star., 1937-08-22
Seven Point Program Laid
Down for American Legion
Thomas Mason, Jr., Newly Elected Com
mander, Includes Welfare and
Membership Drive
MASON. JR.. new &C

riander OF the District OF Co
lumbia Department, the Amer
Il lean Legion, last week an
nounced a seven-point program for
the coming year.
1t is: Service to disabled veterans;
welfare; service to the Sons of the
Legion. an intensive membership
drive; periodic visits to all posts in the
department; participation in all civic
affairs and pledge to give his undi-
vided time to the support of the Le-
gion.
Comdr. Mason has notified the va
r:ous commanders he intends to con-
duct membership drive, with the
Idea Of bringing the membership up
to 10000 during his term of office He
appointed Grover Trbble, commander
of Bunker Hill Post, as department
adjutant and William D. Mulkey as
department finance officer
Comdr Mason and Past Comdr
Horace Lineburg will go to Quantico
next Saturday to present the depart
ments medal to the best corporal in
training with the 5th Battalion of the
Fleet Marine Reserves.
The new department commander
Is married and lives at 47l8 Forty
sixth street. He is a lieutenant in
the Metropolitan Police Department
in charge Of the Office of hack in
spector
He enlisted in the Army on May 80,
1917, and took part in all five ma jor
engagements of the World War as a
sergeant instructor of Field Artillery
while serving as a member of Battery
c, 18th Field Artillery, which bat
terry was part of the famed ID
Division. He was twice cited by the
United States and awarded the
CroiX de Guerre by the French gov
ernment. He was honorably dis
charged from the service on August II.
1919, after more than two years
overseas.
He is a member of the I'd Division
Post of the Legion and a past COM
mander of that post, also of Costello
Post and has served as department
adjutant for the last two years in
addition to being a member of sew
eral standing committees both in his
post and the department for num-
Der OF years. He is also a past presi-
dent of the local branch of the ID
Division and is now in his third term
as national sergeant at arms of that
association.
Fort Stevens Post. No. 80, will hold
a dance al Indian Spring Country
Club September H. Roy C. Ponton
heads the Committee on Arrange
mentS
1t Will be formally opened with in
stallation of post officers by Dept
Comdr. Thomas Mason. jr., and his
staff. The post will hold its annual
election in Stansbury Hall on Septem-
Der g.
Comdr. George W. Philips suggests
post members who expect to attend
the American Legion national con-
vention in New York City should
Immediately register a. departmental
headquarters.
The post departmental champion
Drum and Bugle Corps has FLED reg
ttration to enter national competition
In New York on September 81. This
will be its second attempt at national
conventions, having finished seven
teenth in the ll5 entries at Cleveland
last year. Preparatory drills are being
held on Roosevelt High School parade
grounds each Tuesday and Thursday
night. The corps took first prize III
the recent local convention parade.
A special meeting of Columbia Post
was held on last Wednesday evening
at 9l2 Michigan avenue northeast to
arrange plans for the post drum
and bugle corps to take part in the
department. competition to decide the
champion drum corps of the Legion
and to make plans for the corps to
attend the national convention at
New York City.
The headquarters of the corps while
In New York will be in the Hotel
Luxor, 121 West 46th street. Several
vacancies exist for snare drummers
and buglers. Those who are inter-
ested in these positions should contact
Post Comdr. Harry Pollack at At
lantic 4870
Sergt Jasper Post was honored
when it was awarded the cup for the
best marching unit in the recent
American Legion convention parade
and later during the convention ses-
sions was awarded the Farnk L.
Packham Trophy for having the