Evening star., 1943-08-05
Legion TO Open
25th Assembly
In D. {. Tonight
Customary Hilority
Banned This Year
Because Of War

With frills and fanfare absent.
members of the District Depart
ment of the American Legion pre-
pared to open their 25th annual con-
vention tonight in the Mayf1ower
Hotel
Parades and frivolity that have
marked previous conventions have
been shelved this year in the war
time Streamlining of the program,
officials in charge of the three-day
meeting announced.
Combined with the convention
will be three day meeting of the
Women's Auxiliary, which will be-
gin next Thursday at Legion club
house, 243 Fifteenth 7street NV
The only dinner planned for either
of the two meetings is testimonial
affair to be held by the auxiliary.
McNutt to Speak.
The opening of the Legion con-
vention tonight will feature an ad-
dress by Paul v. McNutt. chairman
of the War Manpower Commission
and one-time national commander
Of the Legion
A memorial service, arranged by
G. Victor DeSsez, chairman of the
Memorial Service Committee, will
precede the official call to order at
$50 pm. Assisting Mr.. Dessez in
the tribute to Legion members who
have. died since the last District
convention will be the Fort Stevens
Post, No. 80, degree team and Drum
and Bugle Corps. The Rev. How
ard Snyder, past department chap
lain will conduct the ceremonies.
O6dal opening of the meeting
at Ss3t pm. will be followed by
music by the United States Navy
Eand Orchestra and an address of
welcome by Department Comdr.
Patrick j. Fitzgibbons Mrs. Edith
Ssdler president of the Women's
Auxiliary; Jack Keller, grande chef
de gare, Voiture 174, Forty and
Eight, and Mrs. Mary B. Corwin,
LIE Chapeau Departmental, Eight
and Forty, also are to extend
greetings.
Committees to Report.
Mr.. McNutt's. address, introduc-
ton of distinguished guests, reports
of the rules and credentials COM
mittees and a roll call of delegates
will complete the nights program.
Tomorrow night Warren Ather-
ton, California attorney, who is
slated to be the next national. COM
mander of the Legion, will appear
before the convention. Mr.. Ather-
ton is unopposed for the national
Office and is to be elected at Omaha
In few weeks.
Another highlight of this years
dual convention will be the pre-
sentation tomorrow night of
trophy in recognition of the Dis
trlct departments having more
members-9,077-than belong to
Legion units in the entire State
of Virginia. w. G. Elliott, Rich
mond (Va), department adjutant,
is expected to make the presenta-
ton.
sherwood on Program.
James sherwood. past commander
Of the Pennsylvania department
and chairman of the World War
No, 2 Liason Committee, will be
a featured speaker tomorrow night.
The James Reese Europe Post No.
5 Drum and Bugle Corps will supply
music for the program.
Twelve department awards will
be presented to posts and individ-
uals for outstanding service during
the past year, and officers will be
nominated.
Election of officers and a report
by Department Comdr. Fitzgibbons
will feature the closing session Sat-
urday night. Candidates for de-
partment commander for the COM
ing year include Jack Chase of the
Police and Firemen's Post No. %
and C. Francis Mccarthy of the
Sergt. Jasper Post No. 13