Evening star., 1941-09-22
Red Cross Launches
Annual Roll Call al
F|ag-Raising Rites
Lady Mountbutten
Is Principal Speaker
At Ceremony

The District of Columbia's 25tf
annual Red Cross Roll Call wa
opened officially at noon today witt
a ceremony in front of the District
Building in which an American anc
a Red Cross flag we're raised to the
top of a pole to remain there unit
the silver anniversary drive end.
October 20.
The f1ag-raising was witnessed by
several hundred spectators, two oi
whom, Mrs. Henry A. Wallace, wife
of the Vice President, and Mrs. Ed
gar A. Morris, wife of the Roll Call
chairman, became the first two en-
rolees. Mrs. Roosevelt was sched-
uled to have been present, but was
unable to attend because of the ILL
ness of her brother.
AS the keynote speaker, Lady Louis
Mountbatten, wife of the British
peer and naval officer, slim ano
blond in the uniform of the Order
OF St. John, nursing service con-
nected with the British Red Cross
told the assemblage that work of the
Red Cross among the people ot
Washington may not have the
dramatic quality that the work OF
the Red Cross has among my own
people, but it has the same sub
stance, the same inspiration, the
same fundamental Wholesomeness. II
She said America had done much to
raise the morale in England.
Praises Red Cross Aid.
"BritainS can testify and testify
with grateful hearts" Lady Mount
batten said, that the American Red
Cross, through your own kindly con-
tributions, has been alert and ade-
quate to the needs which it saw and
served in Britain. 1t is no less es-
sentlal that your local chapter
should be kept prepared for what
ever needs may arise here"
Now making tour of Red Cross
chapters in America, Lady Mount
batten commented that your Red
Cross officials, I know through my
conversation with them, see the
horrible possibilities which hover
over every city of the world today
no less your National Capital than
others"
John Russell Young, president of
the District Board of Commission
ers, read an official Red Cross roll
call proclamation by the board and
then raised the flags, assisted by
local Boy Scouts.
Color was added to the ceremony
by military escorts from the Army
and Navy and by uniformed workers
from the various branches of the
Red Gross Music was furnished
by the United States Army Band
Courtland D. Ferguson, chairman
Of roll-call publicity, served as
master of ceremonies. Among those
seated on the unting-draped plat
form, beneath a giant Red Cross
flag swinging from the top of the
District Building, was Norman H
Davis. chairman of the National
Red Cross.
Lowell z. Hendrick of the Junior
Board of Commerce, the first speaker
on the program, urged Washington
to keep UP its record as leader of
the Nation in the annual roll-call
drives. This plea was echoed by
Brig. Gen. Frank r. Kiefer of the
District Red Cross Chapter.
Roll Call Proclamation.
Red Cross buttons were fastened
on the first two enrollees by Mr..
Morris. Bouquets of white carna-
tions were presented Lady Mount
batten, Mrs. Wallace and Mrs.
Morris.
The proclamation read by Com
missioner Young follows:
Whereas there exist in the Dis
trict of Columbia conditions which
require the ministrations of
the District of Columbia Chapter of
the American Red Cross, to the end
that the distress and discomfort
among our people may be alleviated,
and
Whereas there exist throughout
the United States conditions which
call for the functioning
Of the manifold services of the
American Red Cross, and
Whereas the United States OF
America is now engaged in prepar-
ing for defense against imminent
perils, which preparation and which
perils make maximum demands
upon all of the functions of the
American Red Cross and its district
chapter, and
Whereas old-world suffering as
q result of war and disaster has
reached an unprecedented peak, re-
1uiring the aid and assistance of the
American people through the Ameri-
can Red Gross and its District chap
ter.
Now, therefore, we, the Board of
Commissioners of the District of
Columbia, do hereby proclaim the
period of the annual Roll Call of the
of Columbia Chapter OF the
Red Gross; namely, from
% to October 20, 1941,
time during which all persons moved
by a humanitarian spirit so DOM
inant in the District of Columbia
do pledge to the American Red
Cross and its District of Columbia
Chapter their moral and financial
to the end that the chap
ter may be enabled to continue its
aid to our own people, and may bear
its full share in the work, national
and international, of the American
Red Cross"
With this function today and spe-
cial religious services yesterday aft
ernoon at the Water Gate, where
all faiths joined in pledging their
to the cause, the Silver
Roll Call of the Dis
trict chapter got under way. 1t
will last through october 20, with
of 100000 enrollments.
Lady Mountbatten, after taking
part in the program at noon today
was scheduled to inspect work of
local Red Cross units in a special
tour later in the day. She was to
be guest of honor at luncheon
at the District Red Cross Chapter
House, 1870 E street NV.
Service at Water Gate.
The District,s cornpoior, uaS chor-