Evening star., 1942-10-12
Columbus Day Marked
By Wreath-Laying at
:! Discoverer' S Statue
y
: ItoIiun-Americuns to
oa
=. Close Ceremonies With
Bond RulIy Tonight

Washington honored the memory
sof Christopher Columbus today at
Swreath-laying ceremonies at his
statue in Union Station Plaza.
The Columbus Day ceremonies
were IN charge of two District
groups. the combined Italian-Amer-
lean clubs and the Knights of Co.
lumbus. DR.. R. N. Manganaro laid
the wreath for the Italian-American
clubs. Then James P. McKeon,
State deputy of the knights of Co.
rlumbus, laid a wreath. He was as
sisted by William A. Mulligan, State
warden, and an honor guard of
Fourth Degree knights led by j.
Fred Brady, faithful navigator.
A War bond rally in the Depart
mental Auditorium at o'clock to-
night will conclude the Italian
American clubs celebration.
$500 Expected at Rally.
More than $500 Washingtonians
OF 1talian-American descent.are ex-
pected to attend the rally. Ugo
Carusi, executive assistant to the
Attorney General, will be master of
ceremonies.
Appearing on the musical pro-
gram will be Nicola Moscona, young
Metropolitan Opera Co. basso who
made his American debut three
years ago; Doris Marinelli, soprano,
and Carlo Corelli, tenor, of the
Metropolitan Opero Co.; Alice
Avakian, zzo-soprano OF the San
Francisco Opera Co., and Ivan
Petroff, baritone, who has appeared
with several opera companies.
Ralph Cipriano, chairman Of the
War Bond Committee, is in charge
-of the program. The group will
listen to radio address by Attorney
General Biddle during the rally.
I Important to Christianity.
!. The Rev. John j. Reilly, director
!, Of the National Shrine of the I'm
! maculte Conception at Catholic
! University, in sermon yesterday
= in the shrine marking the Pan
American celebration Of Columbus
Day, said: Few can give much
thought to the man wnom tomor-
row most Of the Americas will honor
and hold his name in benediction
for the contribution he has made"
Columbus has gained in stature
through the years, Father Reilly
said, although some have sought
to make men wonder whether such
a person ever lived or sailed the
seas. If Columbus did not discover
America some one else did, but the
important thing is that when he
did arrive he dedicated the new
land to the Most Blessed Trinity,
took 1t in the name of Christ and
placed it under the protection of
Christ's own Holy Mother.
"It is true" the speaker continued,
columbus had material things in
mind, shorter route to India, but
this in no way takes from his higher
purpose-the extension of the King
dom of God-and when he did ar
rive he seized a cross and with that
gesture sent a message that was
not lost in silence until it struck
against the balconies of Heaven.
I'm these days when the seven
seas have taken on a danger COM
parable only to the dangers that
beset Columbus, and when our men
In blue are doing things that rank
with anything he ever did, the vir-
tue of daring courage that inspired
all OF these comes to our mind and
merits our consideration.
Courage keeps its eye on dan
ger and is well aware of every peril,
but in spite of this takes the risk.
Our men in blue are sweeping the
U-boats from their path"
Asserting that Columbus serves as
a model for us during these dark
days, Father Reilly said that Co.
lumbus had courage and daring, but
in addition he named the land he
found after Christ Our prayers. he
concluded, must give us the power
and courage to see these dark days
through.