Evening star., 1938-09-26
10000 WORKERS
OPEN RED CROSS
ROLL CALL DRIVE
Campaign for Members Is
Launched in Exercises at
D. c. Building.
COMMISSIONER HAZEN
READS PROCLAMATION
Mrs. Cordell Hull Enrolled as
First Member by Secretary
= Of War Woodring.

oi war Wo00rlng.
The 22d annual roll call Of the
District Chapter Of the American Red
Cross was formally launched today
in . colorful ceremony in front Of
the District Building in the presence
OF District and Federal officials, a
corps Of Red Cross nurses and more
than 200 onlookers.
Mrs. Cordell Hull, wife of the Sec
retary of State, received the honor of
being the first oficial Red Cross men,
Der In the Nation during this years
roll call. She was enrolled by Secre-
tary OF War Harry H. Woodring and
the membership registration was then
nown to Red Cross headquarters by
an Army Signal Corps carrier pigeon.
Haseu Reads Proclamation.
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen read
Roll Call proclamation calling on
Washington to again enlist for mercy
under the Red Cross"
Citizens of Washington" the proc-
lamation said, know full we'll that
the Red Cross. the greatest of all
agencies serving humanity in both
peace and war. touches the lives of all
Americans. We readily recall the
great emergencies which are met each
year with Red Cross assistance.
But the American Red Cross, through
Its $500 chapters, does much more
than relieve distress in disaster. In
localities throughout the country
trained and volunteer worker agents
work constantly to prevent loss Of life
due to accident and to teach preserva-
tion of health in home and com.
munity"
Immediately after the ceremony Red
Cross hags were raised on the naepole
IN front Of the building to fly there
until the drive ends October II.
In filing Mrs. Hull's membership
Secretary Woodring said his interest In
this occasion is that of the millions
OF Americans who annually respond
so unselfishly and whole-heartedly to
the membership drive of the Red
Cross"
Seek les,eoo Members.
Edgar Morris, general chairman of
the local campaign. said an army Of
10000 volunteers will seek to obtain
100000 memberships He said Wash
lngton has never failed to reach its
objective in any Red Cross drive.
Admiral William D. Leahy chief of
naval operations, told the audience the
Navy will give the Red Cross the same
loyal support rs in the past. land
pledges its continued cooperation with
the efforts Of this splendid organiza-
ton to serve our fellow men," He was
Joined IN this pledge of support by
Gen. Charles r. Reynolds, surgeon
General of the Army, who said that the
Red Cross has supplemented the work
OF the Medical Department of the
Army and brought the influence of
the home to thousands of soldiers on
duty and in hospitals.
Rear Admiral p. s. Rossiter, surgeon
general Of the Navy, said the Red
Cross Is the greatest humanitarian
organization In the world" and that
the Navy knows and honors the Red
Cross in peace and in war"
Others who spoke included Brig,
Gen. r. r. Keefer, chairman of, the
District chaper Of the Red Cross; Rear
Admiral r. r. Waesche, commandant
Of the Coast Guard, and Miss Mabel T.
Boardman, national director Of Red
Cross Volunteer Services. Norman
Davis, national chairman, also was
present.
The uniformed volunteers present
represented every service of the Red
Cross. There were also nurses from
the city's hospitals, members Of the
American Legion, Veterans Of Foreign
Wars and Disabled American Veterans,
and representatives Of the Salvation
Army, Knights Of Columbus, Boy
Scouts, Y. M. c. A., and Y. M. H. A.
The United States Navy Band played
throughout the ceremonies.
Prior to the opening ceremonies, Z.
Barrett Prettyman, chairman of the
Roll Call Professional Committee,
carried the roll call message to the
General Warrington Ministers Con-
ference at the Hamline Methodist
Church, today. Yesterday Red Cross
Sunday was observed by Catholics,
Protestant and Jewish congregations
throughout the city.
Impetus to the drive was given yes
terday when pastors Of al denomina-
tions made appeals to their congrega-
tions in. behalf Of the Red Cross.