Evening star., 1943-05-09
u. S. Honors Mothers, Greatest Soldiers

OF war Will turn to memories Of
happier times today as Americans
the world over pay tribute to the
/ greatest soldier of them all-mother.
/ President Roosevelt sounded the
keynote of the day. urging the peo-
pie ito display the flag at their
homes or other suitable places {.
as q public expression of our love
and esteem for the mothers of our
country"
Secretary of the Navy Knox
voiced similar sentiments, paying
tribute to those who have given
most-the mothers of America"
Special services were planned to
commemorate the day in most
churches throughout the city. Lines
before candy stores and dwindling
supplies of blossoms in florist shops
were testimony that mothers would
be showered with these traditional
gifts.
James A. Farley, former POST
master General, was to be the prin-
cipal speaker in exercises at the
tomb Of the Unknown Soldier in
Arlington under auspices Of the
Gold Star Mothers of America,
starting at 1890 o'clock. Many or
ganizations and service clubs also
have arranged special programs for
the day.
USO Clubs Plan Programs.
Thousands of mothers will be
honored in observances at $500 USO
Clubs throughout the country, be-
ginning in some at breakfast and
continuing into the evening. Some
clubs have arranged for long dis
tance calls between Army sons, un-
| able to get home, and their mothers.
Douglas Aircraft Corp. is flying
Mrs. Nora v. Edmundson from Cali
fornia to Washington for a brief
visit with her hero-son, 1t. Col.
James Edmundson, now stationed
here. Col. Eomundson, II, has been
decorated seven times for his aerial
feats, which include the sinking of
a Japanese submarine.
Mrs. Edmundson, an Instructor of
Red Cross classes and thrice a donor
to blood banks, Is working at the
Douglas plant to help hasten the day
Of victory.
Mrs. John L. Mcdonald, of 2403
Huidekoper place, NV, in whose
nome hangs a service flag adorned
by six blue stars. will have four of
the children represented by those
stars at home to help celebrate the
occasion. Two of her boys are in the
Navy. One, who has survived a tor
pedoing and escaped from Manila
Immediately after Pearl Harbor, is
IN the Merchant Marine, and an
other Is IN the Army. Two daugh-
tiers are in the WAACS, and their
husbands are on foreign duty with
the Army.
MRS. Mcdonald said yesterday she
Is very proud" of her children but
regrets she couldn't have gone
along with them.
Four Children Here,
Richard M. Mcdonald of the Mer-
chant Marine and now on the high
seas and Mrs. Ellen S. Batche. a
WAAC, now at Daytona Beach, Fla,
are the two who will be absent to-
morrow. Present when the roll is
called will be Cyril E. Mcdonald, 80,
and Francis x. Mcdonald, %, Navy
men; Charles E. Mcdonald of the
Army Air Forces and Mrs. Marga-
ret c. Frank, "a, a WAAC, home on
leave from Fort Devens, Mass. r
Another mother. Mrs. John D.
Pelot Of 34l3 Thirteenth street
NE. who has served as chairman OF
| hostesses at USO dances at. the
/ YMCA every Saturday night since
last autumn, will be the honor guest
| and principal speaker at the Java
| Clubs Mothers Day breakfast at
the "Y" this morning at 9:15.
Mrs. Pelot's husband and son are
both In the Navy. Her son, Charles
E. Pelot, served on the aircraft car
r1er Hornet during its Toxic bombing
mission and is again on foreign duty.
She has not seen her husband for
more than year. He is on foreign
duty as shipfltter.
At the Jewish Community Center
| USO the mothers who give their
services in providing a homelike at
mosphere for visiting soldiers will
be honored. The Maids of Athens
and Sons of Pericles will honor the
Greek-American mother of WASH
lngton with the most sons in the
service at ceremonies at $50 o'clock
tonight at the Pythian Temple.
Service at St. Patrick's.
Catholic policemen and firemen
Will remember their mothers at their
anual communion mass at st. Pat
rlck's Church. while members of the
fourth degree, Knights of Colum-
bus, will receive communion in
body at the Chapel of st. William at
Georgetown University.
In hamlets and towns the country
over many mothers will receive spe-
cial greetings from sons they have
not seen for year or more through
the otices of the USO. Special
Mothers Day paper was distributed
to the troops for the messages.
Florists reported heavy orders from
overseas, swelling the volume of
Easter orders still being received.
They expect Mothers Day flowers
to be distributed throughout the
month as requests delayed by COM
munication conditions continue to
| arrive.
War uo{nv,n 0heor,o.