Evening star., 1942-01-23
Cosmopo|itans Honor
Miss Boardman for
Community Service
Red Cross Official
Is Second Woman to
Receive Club Medal

Miss Mabel T. Boardman, national
secretary of the American Red Cross
and one of the founders Of the
District Chapter, was presented the
Cosmopolitan Clubs distinguished
service medal yesterday in the May
flower Hotel as the citizen perform
ing the most outstanding service to
the community during 194l.
She became the second woman to
receive the award and citation since
the club established the custom II
years ago. The first woman re-
cipient was Miss Mary Virginia Mer-
rick, founder of the Christ Child
Society.
Several hundred persons, tnclud-
ing District and Federal Govern
ment officials, attended the presen-
tation luncheon and heard DR.. J.
Rozier Biggs, chairman of the club S
Medal Committee, term Miss Board
man the "mainspring and inspiring
genius Of the District Chapter and
the national organization as wen"
Cites Sacrifices. a.
In presenting the medal, DR.. Biggs
declared: Because of the numerous
sacrifices Of your time, energy and
finances in promoting the welfare of
the American Red Cross and your
city, the Cosmopolitan Club desig-
mates you the citizen of Washington
who performed the most outstand-
ing unselfish service during the year
1941.
"As is always the case in time of
war or disaster, this war finds the
American Red Cross Springing into
instantaneous action, or rather con-
tinuation of the action that was
launched in behalf of our Allies
months ago." DR.. Biggs said. I'VE
cannot mention the American Red
Cross without naturally and newt
ably bringing to mind the picture of
Miss Boardman, handspring and in
spring genius of the District Chap
ter and the national organization
as well ="
Miss Boardman, the speaker
added, has truly been friend of
all humanity"
Pays Tribute to Volunteers.
Responding to the citation, Miss
Boardman said that she "shone, like
the moon, only in reflected glory"
and that the thousands of Red
Cross volunteers were the real power
behind the organization.
i glory In what our District Red
Cross chapter has accomplished
what its loyal, self-sacrifcing volun-
tiers have given for many
years." Miss Boardman said. Il
glory In the services our small pro-
fessional staff rendered and in those
Of our thousands of volunteers. and
l glory in the confidence and support
washington has always given its
chapter"
Six other recipients of the medal
attended the luncheon. They were
E. c.. Graham. Robert v. Fleming
Thomas p. Littlepage, Ernest w.
Brown, Coleman Jennings and James
E. Collifower. Two others, Eugene
Meyer, publisher of the WASHINGTON
Post, and Theodore w. Noyes, edi-
tor Of The Star, were unable to at
tend. In letter to DR.. Biggs, Mr.,
Noyes praised Miss Boardman for
her sound Judgment, great energy
and executive ability"
Invocation by Bishop Freeman.
Bishop James E. Freeman gave the
invocation and the Rev. DR.. Howard
s. Wilkinson, rector of st. Thomas
Church, the benediction. George
O'Connor led the company in the
singing of the national anthem and
America" The program was broad
cast over Station WMAL.
Guests included Rabbi Norman
Gerstenfeld, District Commissioner
Charles w. Kutz, Undersecretary
Of Treasury Daniel w. Bell; Fred A.
Smith, president Of the Board of
Trade; Charles II. Cook, president
Of the Optimist Club; Algenon p.
Reeves, president of Rotary Club;
Harry p. Stull, president, Fedora
ton Of Citizens Associations; Ray
mond r. Clarity, vice president OF
Kiwanis Club; Bruce Baird, chair
man Of the District Red Cross War
Fund; Brig. Gen. Frank r. Keefer,
chairman Of the District chapter,
and j. Tilghman Hendrick, former
District Commissioner.
Herbert Woods, president of the
CoSmopolitan Club, presided.