Evening star., 1938-05-16
A|RMA|L WEEK
GETS UNDER Way
Mrs. Roosevelt Buys First
Sheet of Stamps Issued
for Celebration.

The National Airmail Week OBJ
servance was in full swing today, after
opening ceremonies yesterday in which
Mrs. Roosevelt participated.
Visiting the American Airlines flag
ship at Fourteenth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue NV, which will be
operated as postal station during
the week, Mrs. Roosevelt purchased
from Postmaster. Vincent c. Burke
the first sheet of the Scent airmail
commemorative stamps the Post Of
fee Department has issued to mark
the goth anniversary of the first mail
fight.
This event. at o'clock, signaled
the start of the celebration nationally.
Immediately afterward postal and
airline officials and their guests flew
to Newark to take a plane which re-
enacted the first New York-Washing
ton flight on May Is 1918, and last
night a dinner in the Mayf1ower
brought together the State winners in
the national airmail essay contest to
see one of their number named as
the national winner. The award,
five-day trip to Miami. Fla, went to
Perry Morrison, Arcadia (Calif)
schoolboy
Broadcast of Program.
On the program today. from 1870
to HAS am, was broadcast from
the cabin Of an Eastern Airlines
plane, set up as part Of an exhibit
in the lobby of the City Post Office,
North Capitol street and Massachu-
sets avenue Senate Leader Barkley
and House Leader Rayburn we're
among those invited to take part.
In purchasing the stamps Mrs.
Roosevelt told Postmaster Burke she
expected they would find their way
into the Presidents collection
A frequent patron of the airlines, the
wife of the President voiced the hope
that the week" would spur interest
In air travel.
The New washington flight
was re-enacted with Capt. Eddie
Rickenbacker, president Of Eastern
Airlines. and Dick Merrill, noted
transatlantic pilot, at the controls.
Edgerton on Trip.
James c. Edgerton of WASHINGTON
former Army flyer who piloted the
first mail plane on the trip 20 years
ago, was among those who made yes
terday's trip. Others included Harl-
lee Branch, Second Assistant Post
master General; Charles P. Graddick,
superintendent of the airmail 1serv-
ice; Postmaster Burke, Paul r.
Younts, postmaster at Charlotte, N. c.,
national chairman for Airmail Week;
Merritt o. Chance, postmaster at
Washington at the time of the first
flight, and Harold Ambrose, director of
information for the department.
The dinner last night marked the
elimination of a contest in the high
schools of the Nation that attracted
more than 100000 entries. Only the
South Carolina winner was absent, the
successful competitors from ~ States
and the District of Columbia making
the trip to Washington.
The second prize, a huge trophy,
went to Ellen Peak of Manhattan,
Kans., and the third, a plaque, to
Homer Still. jr.. Of jacksonville, Fla.
The winning. posters in a Nation
wide contest also were exhibited.
Letter Prom President.
President Roosevelt sent a letter
felicitating the youngsters that was
read by Ambrose OConnell, executive
assistant to Postmaster General Far
ley, and Mr.. Farley sent to each win
ner letter and an autographed photo
graph, uniformed carriers making de-
livery at the dinner
Mr.. Edgerton recounted some of the
experiences in the first days of the air.
mail and brief talks were made also by
Mr.. O'Connell, Mr.. Branch, Chairman
Younts and Capt. Rickenbacker.
The awards were sponsored by the
Post ONCE Department, the Greater
National Capital Committee Of Wash
ington and II cooperating airlines.
The presentations were made by
Thomas w. Bird of Charlotte, N. c.,
chairman of the Judging Committee.
Postmaster Burke was chairman for
the dinner. I.
The Collectors Club, Branch S, So
ciety of Philatelic Americans, will give
an Airmail Week program at Thom-
son Community Center, at 8 o'clock
tomorrow night Motion pictures will
be shown and the public is invited.