The Wilmington morning star., 1943-10-28
NAVY DAY RITES
OBSERVED HERE
CONTINUED From Page One)

living. In the past TWO years, the
American people have grown up,
and the United States fleet has
grown to be the most powerful
collection of men and ships and
planes ever gathered.
s'We have come long way
since Navy Day two years ago.
Since that time we have plunged
into a war such as the world has
never known. It did not 60 very
we'll at first. We were unprepared
for the storm of carefully thought
out treachery the Axis unleashed
against u.s."
CHOW, at last, this Navy Day,
we have reached a point where
we can look ahead to victory. As
our great ally, the Right Honor
able Winston Churchill said re-
cently-'We have come to the
end of the beginning "
Lieut.. Smith pointed out that
the United States is still primari-
ly a sea-faring nation-bounded
on either side by an ocean. He
traced the growth and develop
ment of American sea power from
the time the pilgrims landed on
the rock-bound New England
coast through that era when
freedom of the seas" was an
oft-repeated phrase and showed
how that phrase has come to
position of tremendous importance
to the United States of America.
Lieut.. Smith declared that al
though we suffered appreciably in
the initial set-backs at the hands
of the enemy in World War II
1--WE are now on our way"
The speaker was highly enthu-
siastic in his praise for the al
most unbelievable increase in the
production of ships and fighting
equipment but his praise for the
gallantry and valor of the men
who man those ships was equally
intense. He said, mo discussion
of the Navy would be complete
without a word about the men
who man our fighting ships. There
is no need for me to say to you
that we have heroes in the Am
erican Navy today as great as
any now venerated in history.
You have read of their deeds, you
have seen them come home bat
tered and fatigued from battle,
but still fighting mad at our enc
mics. We have had adequate proof
that the men on our ships are
as strong, as brave, and as re-
sourceful as those of any gene
ration that has preceded them"
Lieut.. Smith exhorted the peo-
pie of America to realize that vic
tory will be ours only after a
long and bloody battle and con-
Guided by saying, "cal it a team,
call it a mutual interest and self
protection, call it anything you
want to, there has never been a
time in our history when the
Navy and the American people
should throw more effort into close
| collaboration. We are going to
win, but victory will come much
quicker, and at much less cost,
if we remember that the boys out
on the seas are depending on the
folks back homeland with that
realization, let us give them all
we've got.''
One of the other outstanding
features of the Navy Day program
held here was the concert given
by the New Hanover High school
ROTC band under the direction
of Lieut.. E. ]. Lacock. All Will
mington schools observed the day
by special homeroom discussions
and chapel programs.
Special programs and dances
were arranged at the Second and
Orange and Fourth an6 Ann street
USO clubs for all servicemen, with
| d SDcC1d1 lIlVlldllOIl " Navy pei
sonnet.
John Sheenan, chairman of the
days committees, said that the
visiting officers were given ride
up the river in picket boat and
also were honored at a dinner at
the Cape Fear club. All the USO
clubs held ''open house, and
served doughnuts, coffee and
sandwiches all day to all service
men and women.
Commenting on the days acti-
vities, Chairman Sheenan said,
"the city of Wilmington showed
true respect and allegiance to the
valor and courage of our Navy
and its fighting men. The coopera-
ton of all contributing parties was
commendable, with special men
ton to the performance given by
the New Hanover High school
ROTC band, which was truly mag
nificent."
-V-