Evening star., 1938-01-16
Veteran Organizations Enjoy
Big Membership Year in 1887
Legion Piles Up Enrolment of 973, ,84l,
While All Its affiliated Groups
Set Ne,U Records.

Inc year 1887 was one OF the
greatest membership years In the
history Of the American Legion, the
American Legion Auxiliary, the Sons
Of the American Legion, the Forty and
Eight and Eight and Forty. While
the Legion piled up an enrolment
Of 973,841 last year for its second
an-time largest membership, all of
its affiliated organizations scored new
records.
The final complete membership fig
ures as Of midnight December 81, 1897,
were: Legion, 973,841; posts, 1888.
Auxiliary, 444,200; units, 1929 Sons,
1862; detachments, So; squadrons,
1902. Forty and Eight, 1884;
voitures, 750 Eight and Forty, 6,127;
departments, As; salons, 27l.
The District of Columbia stood sixth
in the distribution of the $3.50, ,843, 1868
expended by the Veterans Admins
tration during the last fiscal year, on
account of veterans and their de-
pendents, according to the annual
report of Gen. Frank T. Hines.
These disbursements only included
operating and construction costs at
all facilities maintained by the ad-
ministration, and all other direct and
indirect benefits paid to veterans and
their dependents.
Fort Stevens Post Endorsed construc-
ton plans proposed for an elementary
school to the built at Third and In
graham streets NV. as well as those
for Northern High School, to be built
at Fifth and Sheridan streets NV,
following report by Intercivic Commit
tee Chairman Ernest A. Pullman. An
open meeting, planned to coordinate
civic activities in the Northwest area,
will be held April 7, to which meeting
officers of the interested citizen and
business associations are to be in
vited.
Members recently admitted are:
Milton Clements. United States Army;
William Bickerdyke, 103d Engineers;
Wesley B. Allen, 18th Field Artillery;
Earl j. Auten, United States Navy Re-
serve; Frederick L. Taylor, 347th Field
Artillery; Abraham Greenblat, United
States Army; George w. Hopkins. 342d
M. G.. Battalion: Charles j. OHare,
United States Navy Reserves; Ralph
P. Gilbert, goth Infantry; Irving
Greensboro. 1O4th Field Artillery;
William H. Butler, 16lst Infantry;
James H. Range, United States Navy,
and John I. Spreckelmyer, 3O1st Mo-
tor Transport Corps.
The annual patriotic essay contest,
conducted by the post in IA of the ele-
mentary public and parochial schools
of the Northwest, is now in progress.
Medals and award certificates will be
presented at the posts annual commu-
nifty patriotic meeting in Roosevelt
High School on Lincoln's birthday an
niversary. Joseph A. Walkers Ameri-
canism Committee presented American
Legion citizenship medals during
award exercises at Macfarland Junior
High School on January II and at
Paul Junior High School on Janu-
ary IA.
Sons of the American Legion Squad
ron Drum and Bugle Corps drill each
Tuesday at pm. in Roosevelt High
School gymnasium. All members of
the corps are requested to be present
with instruments January 18, it being
necessary to permanently assign du-
ties to drummers and buglers for COM
ing competition. Richard H. Viancour
is musical director.
The sixth anniversary dance will be
held at Indian Spring Country Club
on February 10.
Six Distrist posts will receive cita-
tions for meritorious service for hav-
ing exceeded their four-year average
in membership by December 81, 1897.
National Cathedral Post exceeded its
mark by November 30, 1887, and has
already received its citation. The
other five posts are the 2nd Division,
James E. Walker. George E. Killeen,
Cooley Mccullough and the Washing
ton Police.
Miss Anne D. Pryde, who for many
SSSsAo AAd~o 0SNAA I'll CStOl VI WCl1dlC d1lO
relief of the Legion in this city, re-
signed last week to accept a position
with the Veterans Administration
Facility at Bay Pines, Fla. Tempo
rarily Miss Mary Stewart, assistant
to Miss Pryde, will be in charge of the
Office.
National Cathedral Posts Executive
Committee will meet in the Offices of
j. OConnor Roberts, 729 Fifteenth
street NV, on Tuesday to discuss
plans for an entertainment and dance
on Washington's birthday.
Cooley-M Post met in the
Departmental Bank Building, with
Senior Vice Comdr. Guy C. Nadeau
presiding, and made plans for an en-
tertainment at Mount Alto Hospital
on January 26. Charles Kohen will be
in charge of the program.