Evening star., 1938-06-07
VETERANS FETED
AT WHITE HOUSE
827 Received by President
in CoIorfuI Ceremony
on the Lawn.

Amid a perfect June setting in the
rear grounds of the White House
yesterday afternoon President Roose-
velt received several hundred veterans
and specially invited guests, the occa-
sion being the annual lawn party in
honor of American war veterans.
, In the absence Of Mrs. Roosevelt,
who was with her personal secretary
and friend, Mrs. Malvina Schneider,
who is in a hospital in Poughkeepsie,
N. Y, the President was assisted In
the receiving line by Mrs. Cordell
Hull, wife of the Secretary of State,
and Mrs. James Roosevelt, wife of
the Presidents eldest son.
Attired in a Palm Beach suit, the
President stood on a little knoll In
the shade Of a tall maple tree as~he
shook hands with and extended cheer
full greeting to 827 persons who passed
along the receiving line. #
Colorful Affair.
This reception. like all of the other
veterans receptions since their In
ception during the Wilson admins
tration, was impressive and colorful.
The veteran guests were not confined
entirely 20 The World War. There
were those who followed the flag dur
ing the Spanish War and the Civil
War.
Some of the veterans had to be
wheeled along the grounds, others
were assisted in their walking by
hospital nurses or Red Cross attend
ants, a number walked on crutches
or with the aid of a cane, but the
majority were able to get along with
out assistance.
To aid the veterans and to look
after their comfort and entertain
ment were a number of uniformed
nurses and members of the Red Cross
chapters, in addition to 40 attractive
ly dressed young women, workers
in the Veterans Bureau, who had
been personally selected to represent
the various States on this occasion
Each wore a large picture hat and
over each shoulder satin sash bear
ing the name of the State represented.
Marine Band Plays.
The Marine Band was stationed in
the center of the grounds and played
lively airs while the long line passed
in front of the President. About the
grounds were several marques,
brightly colored awning tops, under
which refreshments were served.
Prominent among the invited guests
in attendance were Secretary of War
and Mrs. Woodring, Rear Admiral and
Mrs. Pettingill. Mrs. Woodrow Wilson,
widow of the former President, who
held the first veterans garden
party in 1919; Secretary of Com
merce and Mrs. Roper, Col. Louis
johnson, Assistant Secretary of War;
Admiral Leahy, chief Of naval opera
tions, and Mrs. Leahy; Gen. Malin
Criag, chief Of staff Of the Army,
and Mrs. Craig; Maj. Gen. Thomas
Holcomb, commandant Of the Marine
Corps; Brig. Gen. Frank Hines, ad-
ministrator Of the Veterans Admin
istration, and Col. John Thomas Tay-
lor, legislative director Of the Ameri:
can Legion, and Mrs. Taylor.
The first veteran in line to be re-
ceived was John Hassell, patient
at Walter Reed, who was in wheel
chair. When two Civil War vet
erans, John T. Ryan, who is q door,
keeper at the Capitol, and Charles
Fox, reached the President in the
line the latter detained them for a
moment while he chatted with them.
Mr.. Ryan mentioned the fact that
he had been with the Union forces
at the Battle of Monocacy, and the
President told him that he had Wis
tied that battle-ground and had al
ways been interested in that en-
gagement Of the war.
Another Civil War veteran present
was Maj. q. o. Van Meter, 70-year-
old veteran Of Riverdale, Md. who Is
said to be the Oldest volunteer ofacer
to enter the World War.
Howard Glee Club Sings.
In the line Of veterans was Brig.
Gen. John Philip Hill of the Reserve
Corps, former member of the House
from Baltimore, who was a colonel
during the World War and who is
now under treatment at Walter Reed
for eye trouble.
Following the handshaking there
was an entertainment program pre-
sented BY the Howard University
Mems Glee Club, led by Prof. Roy
Tibhs. The singers, 40 in number.
sang q number Of songs, Of which
two were spirituals, personally reQuest-
cd BY the President. These were