Evening star., 1939-06-18
independence Day
Celebration Plans
Well Under Way
,FinoI Arrangements
Await Presidents
Decision on Talk

Plans for Washingtons annual
Independence Day celebration are
we'll under way. completion Of the
program awaiting President Roose-
velt's decision as to whether he will
be chief speaker for the occasion.
At meeting yesterday of Execu-
tive Committee handling the cele-
bration it was said that arrange
ments for this years display were
similar to last years, but that final
plans could not be drafted until it
was known whether the President
would consent to speak.
The committee in charge this
year is headed by Brig Gen. Albert
L. Cox, commanding officer of the
District National Guard.
The celebration. featuring a fire.
works display. will be held on the
north side of the Washington Monu-
ment Grounds. Seats for 14,145 per-
sons at Is cents each are being
provided. The area in which the
fireworks are to be set off will
be Immediately adjacent to Consti-
tuition avenue and the spectators
will face north from the Monument.
The celebrations start at tbs pm.
July T.
Ticket Demand Brisk.
A brisk demand for tickets was
reported by George Keneipp, man.
ager of the Keystone Automobile
Club and chairman of the Ticket
and Seating Committee, who pre-
dicted "a sell-out house" for the
event.
A ticket booth will be opened at
10 am. on the grounds the day
Of the celebration and six others
will be opened at pm. to facilitate
purchases.
Business establishments Coop
Grating in the sale of tickets include
Keystone Automobile Club, Raleigh
Hotel, Frank R. Jelleff, Inc: S.
Kann Sons Co.. Julius Garfinckel &
Co., Mayf1ower Hotel, American Au-
tomobile Association. Community
Center Offices. Hecht Co.. Palais
Royal. Willard and Washington Ho-
tells, Woodward & Lothrop, Lans-
burgh & Bros. and Goldenberg Co.
c. Melvin Sharpe, chairman of
the Fireworks Subcommittee. an
nounced yesterday that he was re-
ceiving bids from fireworks COM
panles for the display.
Flag Procession Planned.
Several new types of fireworks
likely will be included and the
usual numbers of Skyrockets, pin
wheels and flower pots will brighten
the skies. A number of set displays
also will be in evidence.
District National Guardsmen,
Park Police and Boy Scouts will
handle the crowds.
Preceding the display will be a
procession of flags borne by rep
resentatives of patriotic, veterans
and civic organizations. The United
States Marine Band and the Fort
Stevens Drum and Bugle Corps. it
is expected, will provide a musical
setting for the proceedings.
Executive Committee.
Members of the Executive Com
mittee are as follows:
Executive assistants to the chair
man, Roland M. Brennan and Maj.
Sidney Morgan; Mrs. Walter B.
Fry, Mr.. Sharpe and Lawrence E.
Williams, vice chairmen; Mrs.
Elizabeth K. Peoples, secretary: G.
R. Wilhelm, application: Arthur j.
Sundlun, city decoration and illu-
mination; James F. DuhameI and
Charles M. Thomas, community
participation; Winfree E. johnson
and Richard S. Tennyson. contests
and carnivals; S. Percy Thompson
and Mrs. L. w. Hardy, finance; Mr..
Sharpe and DR.. H. Lynn Colvin;
Albert Clyde-Burton and Linor
Hudson, grounds; Harold Snyder,
Lighting; 1t. Col. Peyton G.. Nevitt
and Chalmers S. Mcconnell, mill
tary. patriotic and veterans Coop
Grafton; Col. Edwin A. Halsey, pro-
gram; w. w. Wheeler and Curtis
| A. Hodges, publicity; Edgar Morris,
Miss Sibyl Baker, Harry P. Somer-
vile and J. G. Yaden, reception;
Mr.. Keneipp and Maj. Edwin S.
Bethlehem, jr., tickets and seating;
Maj. Brown and Capt. Carroll, traf-
f1c and public safety.
The Sponsoring Committee for the
| city's celebration consists of DR.,
! Frank w. Ballou, Lewis H. Barrett,
Arno B. Cammerer, Senator Arthur
Capper, Representative Ross A. Col
Inns, Mrs. Henry Grafton Doyle
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen, Sen
ator William H. King, Col. David
McCoach, jr., Marvin Mcintyre, Eu-
gene Meyer, Newbold Noyes, John
O'Rourke, Senator j. H. Overton
Mrs. Eleanor Patterson. Col. George