Evening star., 1943-06-19
July 4 Program
To Be Staged al
Sylvan Theater
Time Set so as Not
To Conflict With
Water Cote Concert

Will be held at the Sylvan Theater,
with military parades of peacetime
years missing, the Board of Trade
decided at meeting yesterday.
The sponsoring committee, headed
by Granville Guide, president of the
board, will meet again at 2:3O pm.
Wednesday in the boards confer
ence room for reports from COM
mittees arranging the annual event.
The Sylvan Theater exercise will
start at or $50 pm, to be con-
cluded In time to permit spectators
to attend the Symphony Orchestra
concert at the Water Gate.
War is restricting the scope of
the holiday celebration. To save
gasoline used by some so motor
cycle policemen who escorted men
participating in the 10-mile mara
thon last July 4 through city streets,
the marathon will be held this year
in Rock Creek Park and shortened
to B miles. The race begins at
10 am.
Because July a falls on SUNDAY
some communities are planning
July celebrations in their respec-
tive areas. A complete list will be
made public later.
Marine Band to Play.
Tentative plans for the Sylvan
Theater program include a band
concert by the Marine Band. eroup
singing OF patriotic songs. reading
OF the Declaration of Independence
and an address.
Military and patriotic organi-
zatlons will be invited to partici-
pate IN a massing of the colors
ceremony preceding the exercise.
Ihls feature will provide the only
military flavor to the holiday pro-
gram.
Special badges in red, white and
blue will be given to winners of
athletlc contests in various COM
mun1ties, in lieu OF the medals
awarded in past years.
There will be no fireworks, It was
also decided yesterday to omit print
ed programs and printing of the
commissioners proclamation. Spon-
sors said they would rely on news
paper and radio announcements to
place the July 4 program before the
public. A representative of the Cap
ltal Transit Co. said the company
would display posters on street cars.
Chairs for Special Guests.
Since only a limited number of
chalrs will be available for the
sylvan Theater exercise, the Board
OF Trade will send out invitations to
special guests who are to be seated,
The public will sit or stand on the
grass.
During the discussion yesterday 1t
was emphasized that, due to the
gasoline shortage in this area. the
July celebration sponsors must
provide transportation for the Ma
rlne Band to and from the Sylvan
Theater.
Representatives of the Park Police
pointed out that approximately 80
per cent OF persons attending other
events at the Sylvan Theater and
the Water Gate walk considerable
distance after being discharged from
buses and street cars, due to the
pleasure driving ban. 1t should be
no hardship, they added, for the
July celebration spectators to walk
to the theater, on the Washington
Monument Grounds, and thence to
the Water Gate.
1t was emphasized that in no
event will there be a conflict with |
the Symphony Orchestra concert at |
the Potomac Water Gate the night |
of July 4, beginning at $50 o'clock, |
and that the patriotic program
would be concluded at least half |
hour before the concert begins.
Sponsors Named.
July happens to be the Goth |
birthday anniversary of Mike Lynch,
widely known District marathon
runner. Mr.. Lynch assured Dis
trlct Recreation Department off, |
cials he would compete in the Rock
Creek smile marathon. In peace
time years, the marathon here was
over a 15-mile route, attracting
many of the outstanding long dis
tance runners of the East.
The sponsoring committee for the |
July 4 celebration consists of the
following:
Harry S. Wender, James E.
Schwab, Mrs. Alice C. Hunter, Wal
ter L. Fowler. Mrs. George A. Gar
rett, Irving C. Root, C. Melvin
Sharpe, Milo F. Christensen. Ken
meth Berkeley, Carl j. Burkland,
Senator Capper, A. E. Demaray,
William B. Dolph, Mrs Henry Grat-
tan Doyle, Maj Charles H. Fearing,
Robert L. Haycock, Lawrence j.
Heller.
Also 1t. Gen. Thomas Holcomb, l
Admiral E. J. King, Bennett Larson,
Representative Mahon, Gen. George
c. Marshall, Senator McCarran, B.
M. McKelway, Eugene Meyer, Sem
ator O'Mahoney, John ORourke,
Mrs. Eleanor Patterson, Representa-
tive Randolph, Carlton Smith, Capt.
H. C. Whitehurst.
Honorary chairmen, Commission
erS John Russell Young, Guy Mason