Evening star., 1940-11-12
Roosevelt Speeches
Mark Observance
OF Armistice Day
Speaks nt Tomb Of
Unknown Soldier and Lays
Medical Unit Cornerstone

the close of the World War, Pres
ldent Roosevelt laid the cornerstone
of the skyscraper Naval Medical
Center at Bethesda, Md, yesterday
afternoon, delivering a brief address
in which he emphasized the Gov
ernment's duty to the living who
serve it.
Earlier in the day the President
had spoken solemnly at the Tomb
Of the Unknown Soldier, symbol
of those who died for the Nation.
At Bethesda, standing beneath the
steel structure on which the great
modern hospital and medical center
soon will take shape, he said: This
Nation is gaining in foresight. This
Nation, thereby, is saving human
life in war and in peace"
After paying tribute to the coun-
try's dead at Arlington National
Cemetery, it was, the President said,
fitting that I'VE assemble again in
the patriotic cause of preserving the
wellbeing of those who, living, wear
the uniform of our defense"
Recalls Patient~Load of War.
Mr. Roosevelt said his mission
was particularly close to his heart,
recalling: During the trying days
of the World War, when serving as
Assistant Secretary of the Navy, I
we'll remember the tremendous load
of patients that were cared for un-
der the restricted facilities at the
Naval Hospital overlooking Consti-
tuition avenue. That hospital occu-
pies an historic site-the place
where Gen. Braddock landed in
l755 when George Washington was
serving as his aide camp"
Pointing to the long-felt need for
increased capacity and better facili-
ties, the President added that when
this building is completed We shall
have 500-bed hospital incompara-
bly, modern in structure and equip
ment." He saw in the 247 acres
the center owns ample space for
any emergency that may be reason
ably anticipated"
He congratulated all who had a
part in the project. remarking that
the construction work was at least
three months ahead of schedule and
1t was hoped to occupy the new
buildings by next October.
This Naval Medical Center, he
said, lis tribue to a living democ-
racy-a democracy which intends
to keep on living"
Despite the rain and the heavy
mud on the dirt roads leading to
the project, a crowd attended the
ceremony.
The invocation was pronounced
by Capt. Robert D. Workman, chief
chaplain of the Navy, and the Presi-
dent was introduced by Rear Ad-
miral Ross T. McIntire. surgeon
general of the Navy. There was
music by the Navy Band and the
Marine Band, and a detachment of
marines guarded the approaches to
the cornerstone.
Ceremony at Wilson's Tomb.
At the tomb of Woodrow Wilson
IN the Washington Cathedral late
In the day, the e~Right Rev. James
z. Freeman, Bishop of Washington.
paid tribute to the war President,
expressing hope that America might
become the mightiest factor in ef-
fecting world peace.
I'VE shall poorly pay tribute to
him on this latest Armistice Dav."
said Bishop Freeman, unless with
inner zeal and quickened devotion
We solemnly resolve to press his
claims and reaffrm his hopes for
} Warless, happy, peaceful and
righteous world
The choir and clergy left the
tomb in the Bethlehem Chapel
singing professional litany and
marched to the main floor of the
where another service
was held under the auspices of the
Disabled American Veterans.
Two children carried flowers for
he Woodrow Wilson Armistice Dav
Committee. Wreaths were placed
IN the tomb by the American
Legion, the Legion Auxiliary, the
George Washington Post and other
units. Maj. Oliver P. Newman pre-
sentned a wreath for the Woodrow
Wilson Foundation, and students of
woodrow Wilson High School
brought floral tribute from the
school. The veterans service was
tribute to nurses and other wom-
en who have served their country
IN time OF war. Vincent Schoek
placed wreath sent by the Nurses
Chapter OF Pittsburgh.
Chevy Chase Exercises.
More than $50 children of the
Chevy Chase Elementary School
held exercises featuring a parade
yesterday.
Homemade costumes, used by the
children in the half-mile parade,
we're proudly worn by the different
classes, each seeking to show their
of democracy.
The Janet Montgomery Chapter
Of the American Revolution pre-
sented Mrs. Anna Rose, principal of
the school, with a flag of the State
Of Maryland, following the parade,
as the 35-piece band of the ele-
school played Maryland,
My Maryland"
Armistice Day was observed at
Md, with a program un-
der the joint auspices of the Hen
derson Smith Edmonds Legion
Post and the National Defense Com
nittee of Richard Montgomery High
School, An address was delivered
by Maj. Gen. Walter A. Bethel,
q. S. A., retired.
Pupils at the Kensington (Md)
Elementary School held an Armis-
tice Day assembly. Wilson Town.
send of the American Legion pre-
5ented a Maryland State flag. The
Rev. Wendell Tredick of Kensing-
on Presbyterian Church pronounced
L. l. i