Evening star., 1939-03-20
Cherry Blossom Ceremonies
To Begin Early on Friday
Officials Announce Trees Heavily
Budded; President to Join

Cherry Blossom Week begins here
this Friday and those in charge of
the extensive program were hold
ing their breaths today and pray
ing that the blossoms will CO.
operate.
The cherry blossom trees are ex-
pected to be in full bloom by March
81, it was announced today by C.
Marshall Finnan, superintendent of
the National Capital Parks. Mr..
Finnan added, however, that this
depended on the continuance of
normal weather, conditions. A sud-
den cold snap. he said, would de-
lay the appearance of the blossoms
while a very warm spell will hasten
their blooming.
The greatest celebration yet is
planned to greet the advent of the
blossoms. AS yet. there are no more
than faint signs that the Tidal
Basin trees are ready to bloom
but the blossom department of the
National Capital Parks is hoping
that a few warm days will do the
trick.
The Commissioners have issued
a proclamation, addressed to the
citizens OF the United States, set
ting aside the days from March "a
to March 81 for the celebration.
During that time parades. drills
fireworks displays and countless
parties are scheduled. President
Roosevelt, Vice President Garner
and members of the cabinet have
been invited to lead official Wash
ington in the attendant ceremonies
Thousands of persons are expect
ed to pour into the Capital during
the week to look at the blossoms
and participate in the celebration
Trees Heavily Budded.
The trees this year are more heav-
lily budded than ever before, the
National Capital Parks announced
The date for the opening of the fes-
tlval was set in the hope that the
blooms would be at their height
during this period.
There are more trees this wear
than ever before, the Cherry Bios
som Festival Committee announced
Notwithstanding the advanced state
Of hysteria that prevailed when the
Thomas Jefferson Memorial was
begun. the committee said that only
18 trees were moved to make way
for the memorial-and all these
were transplanted nearby.
Curtis Hodges, director in charge
OF promotion for the festival. said
that letters inquiring about the
blossoms had been received from al
most every State in the Union. A
committee is working under his di-
rection to handle housing arrange
ments for the visitors.
Ceremonies on Friday.
The spectacular opening day cere-
monies will be held Friday, begin
ming at am. This sunrise service
will be conducted by special group
of dancers and the United States
Marine Band.
Under direction of Miss Evelyn
Davis. the group will present group
of Potomac River Valley dances
Feature of this will be the Romney
Reel, performed only in the Potomac
Valley and discovered and arranged
by Mary-Anne Bishop and Kendall
Foss.
The sunrise ceremony is under
direction of the National Capital
Parks Office and the Community
Center Department. Mrs. E. K.
Peoples, director of the Community
Center, is chairman of the Sunrise
Ceremony Committee.
Assisting her are James F. Du-
hamel. Miss Davis, Harold Snyder,
Ardelle Payne. Mrs. Belle c. Parker,
Rudolph Gaber, John A. Saul. Wal
ter F. Wasson, Mrs. Edith Hunter,
Albert Clyde-Burton and Miss Vir-
ginia Diedel.
Another dance program will be
presented later in the day when
youngsters from Fairgrounds and