Evening star., 1939-09-28
DC. Red Cross
Launches Drive
For Members
Secretary Woodring
Makes Appeal at
FIog-Roising

VAlC DAOO1 ASU S1luPVCA VI CAAC I11l1CA l.
can Red Cross today formally
launched its twenty-third annual
roll call, sending 1000 volunteers
into the field in an effort to obtain
. record-breaking membership Of
l25,000.
With an American Legion unit
acting as guard of honor, the Red
Cross flag was raised on the mast in
front of the District Building shortly
after noon in the presence of Dis
trict and Federal officials, corps of
Red Cross nurses and scores of on
lockers.
To Mrs. Emma L. De Graw, only
living member of the group which
founded this humanitarian organi-
cation in 1881, went the honor of
being the first Red Cross member
for 1899. She was enrolled by Edgar
Morris, general chairman of the
District Chapters drive.
Woodring Makes Appeal.
Praising the splendid success with
which the American Red Cross has
discharged its responsibilities down
through the years, Secretary Wood
ring urged:
Join the American Red Cross and
bring peace and happiness to those
of your fellow men who have been
fighting a raging war-and often a
losing war-against misery, want
and privation"
Engineer Commissioner David Nc
Coach, jr, read a roll call proc
lamation calling on Washington
residents to add their names to
this roll of honor in our COM
munity"
Text of Proclamation.
The proclamation follows
THE people of Washington are
asked this year to keep our Red
Cross ready and able to meet any
emergency, whether at home or
abroad in troubled world. We
have that opportunity during the
Annual Membership Roll Call for
the District of Columbia Chapter of
the American Red Cross, beginning
today. Thursday, September %, and
ending Tuesday, October 19.
THE year 1899 marks the 18th an
niversary of the establishment of
the Red Cross as an international
agent for impartial aid and relief
to the people of all nations. Today
1t still stands as Civilizations answer
to hatred and bloodshed, q spiritual
: heritage for all mankind.
THE Red Cross was born Of war
and If 1t is to live it must not be
d overwhelmed by the idea of war
= The Red Cross creates mutual un-
derstanding between nations through
the cooperation of men of good will
The Red Cross is, and must continue
to be, factor of peace
There is part in this movement
Tor every man and woman of the
world, for only in strength of num-
bers can we assure that the Red
Cross will meet the challenge of the
present. AS an American, I am
proud to ask whole-hearted support
of the Red Cross by every Washing
! tonian.
} "The American Red Cross neces-
sarily has set a goal of 1000, 900 more
members than enrolled in 1898. The
district of Columbia Chapter of the
Ted Cross, in turn, aims to enroll
t least 125,OOO.
\ Fifty cents of each dollar given
for Red Cross membership will re-
main in Washington to enable thou
sands of volunteer workers to allie
r vlate suffering and prevent distress
here. Last year more than 10000
volunteers in the District gave hours
OF service equivalent to IS years in
serving the sick, the needy, the
homeless and the blind, teaching
preservation of health and prevent
ing loss of life due to accidents.
1T gives me pleasure, therefore, on
behalf of the Board of Commission
ers of tie District Of Columbia, to
hereby aside the period of the
Annual oil Call, September % to
October 49, inclusive, as the time
when all members will be asked to
renew their membership, and for
those who have not enrolled before,
to add their names to this roll of
honor in our community"
Financed by People.
Secretary Woodring declared that
the Red Cross, without regard for
religious belief, political thought or
racial membership" has carried on
toward its one great objective, the
relief of human suffering.
Although this organization holds
q quesi-governmental status" he
said, "it is not and never has been
Government-financ Its yearly
programs of assistance and rehabili-
tation are made possible solely
through the financial support of
millions of Americans who join as
members and through the work Of
thousands of volunteers who serve
long hours without pay"
In such turbulent times as these,
Mr.. Woodring added, never before
has there been such a terrifying
need for sympathy, good will and
compassion.
'"Tke American Red Cross is CIV
Ing each and every one of us a con-
crete opportunity to do our bit in
preserving for our country spirit
Of mutual assistance and good fell
lowship," he declared. Let us all
enlist under this red badge of hu-
manitarism."
Brig. Gen. Frank R. Keefer, chair
man Of the local chapter, told the
gathering the American Red Cross
already has enlisted in the Eu-
ropean war-on the side of mercy.
Chairman Morris warned that
workers must not rest on achieve
ments OF the past because the need
for Red Cross members is greater
now than ever before.
I'VE want you as a member of this
great common cause to relieve mis-
fortune and prevent suffering" he
said. With true spirit of sharing
In the task of aiding others, we can
not fail our goal in 1885,"
Another speaker, Norman Davis,
chairman of the American Red
Crncc cold that i, m .,.:kl