The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-09-25
AUDIENCE OF.
ABOUT 1000 At
PERFORMANCE.
Crowd II ars Thrilling
Music A n d Address
At Presentation
BY FRANCES M. LEONARD

The first annual Military Concert
at the Belle Isle Shell on Sunday.
September 10. given by the John r
USO Jr. and Sr. Hostesses and
military bands and choruses from
the Sixth Service Command. pro-
vdied an evening OF unusually fine
listening enjoyment for the nearly
1000 spectators who heard it.
The hostesses had made their
costumes in keeping with the patri-
otto red, white and blue theme,
and they presented a pleasant sight
10 behold. On the platform from
which Mr.. John c. Dancy. chair
man Of the Service To Negro Troops
Committee. was a witty master OF
ceremonies sat several prominent
citizens.
Mayor Speaks
Brief remarks OF commentator
FOR the work that the John r. USO
Is doing were made by Mayor Ed
ward Jeffries Jr.. Mr. J. j. Con
sidine. Gen. Supt. Of Parks and
Recreation. and Mr. George Picrrot.
director. Metropolitan USO.
Par excellence was the renditions
by the Fl. Custer Wac Octette,
which was trained BY the world
famous r. Nathaniel Dett and
which he directed in singing two
Of his own compositions. Mr.. Dett
Is a member OF the National USO.
Participating Groups
Highlights among the many good
musical selections came with the
performance Of the Combination
Chorus. consisting OF the John X
USo Jr. and Sr. Hostcsscs, s6th
Service Group. 332nd Fighter
Group. 44th Aviation Squadron.
Michigan State Troops. U. S. Coast
Guards. Wac Group. Fit Custer: and
the Canadian Group. Thunderous
applause followed the 332nd Fighter
Group Chorus. led by Cpl. Hugh
jenkins. the Sr. Majorcttes from
Juniors On Parade" under the d.
rcction OF Mrs. LaClaire Knox;
e6th Service Group. Oscoda Air
Base. under the direction o. Cpl
James Allison: 44th Aviation
Squadron and Charles Young Post
Dru mand Bugle Corps, and the
U. S. Navy Band. Crosse Tie Naval
Air Base. Chief william o. Melvin,
bandmsster.
Main Address
Col. Robert Selway Jr. Com
msnding Officer 3a7nd Fighter
Group. Seifridge Field. was the
guest speaker for the occasion. In
his remarks he addressed words
Of praiset TO the volunteers who
have worked so diligently and UNI
tiringly 10 make possible the exc
ou,ion OF the plans laid for the
John r. USO Center. He said that
the John r. USO has the best all
around program for the entertain
ment and recreation Of servicemen
that he knew Of. His words OF
commentator for the directors and
workers in the John r. USO Center
Will long be remembered by those
listening.
Bonnie c.. Evans. Wac. Fl. Custer
Mich. held the audience spcllbound
with her dramatic presentation
Theme song OF the John r. USO.
written bv Col Sclwsy. was done
with great gus;o.
Pins Presented
Mr. A. J. Berries. Detroit Chap
ter. ARC. expressed appreciation
N the volunteers FOR the work they
have done and presentation was
made ~ close 20 thirty pins to vol
unteersr who have served 80 hours
or more.
Musical background was furn-
ished by the IT, s Navy Band, Sell
fridge Field Band. Others on the
stage were: Mrs. Ardensh Stephens,
director John r. USO: Prof Wood
burn O. Ross Wayne university;
Col. Augusta p Munro. Command
ant lst Women's Regiment OCD;
1t Bennett II Tosy. A. c. Sci
fridge Field: Major T. w. Detlnt
Public Relations Officer. Dist. J.,
9Th Service Command: 1t. John
Durrond III. Special Service Off
Ger. Oscoda Air Base. Oseoda.
Mich: Mr. Ernest Marshall. war
Vocational Training: Mr.. Claude
Cooper, Mem. Sccy, TMCA: Mr..
Fred II. Williams, Detroit Musicians
association: Mrs. Helen w Holmes,
Asst director. John r USO; Col.
and Mrs. william l.. Boyd, Com
handing Officer. Sclfridgc Field;
1t Julictte Simmons, Wac Unit,
Fl Custer: 1t. w. c, Wyatt. Sell
fridge Field: Rev. and Mrs. George
Babcr, Ebenezer AME church who
asked the invocation: Capt. Richard
Jones Special Service Officer. Fl.
Custer: Miss Mary O'Neill. Metro
politan USO: Mrs. Msdelainc Fow-
Ter. Executive Sec'y. Lucy Thur
man YWCA: Ben Henderson, man.
sgcr. Paradise Bowl. who con-
tributed the programs.
Hot coffee. doughnuts and sand
wiches were served 10 the partici-
pants on the scene OF the concert
by members Of the Red Cross Mo-
tor Corps. The program was spon-
sored by the Detroit Musicians
Association and the Service TO Nc
- r.-zz. r,o,p,itfpe