Evening star., 1943-06-14
Allied Banners F|y
As Nation Holds First
Joint Celebration
Services Held Day EorIy
So as Not to Interrupt
National War Effort

Banners of all the United Nations
were massed today with the Stars
and Stripes in the first joint cele-
bration of the traditional observ-
ance of Flag Day.
In Washington, as elsewhere. the
new Flag Of the -Four Freedoms"
was flying publicly for the first time,
representing all the United Ma
tlons.
The -Four Freedoms Flag, chosen
by popular poll. consists of a white
field emblazoned with four vertical
bars OF red, representing the prin-
clples of the Atlantic charter
freedom of speech and religion and
freedom from want and fear.
President Roosevelt, in his Off
clal proclamation setting today
aside for united tribute to the en-
blems Of the 80 nations represent
ing the "massed, angered forces of
common humanity called upon the
United States to display the Allied
flags side by side with their own.
We know that our flag is not
fighting alone" the President said.
The flags of 80 United Nations are
marching together, borne forward by
the bravery of free men. Together,
they are the emblem of gathering
offensive that shall iberate the
world
Leahy Addresses Elks.
Flag Day ceremonies. which were
scheduled yesterday afternoon in
order that the participants might
not lose time from work in further
ing the war drew large crowds to
the exercises Of the American Legion
on Meridian Hill Park and the
Elks in the Sylvan Theater.
Our F,ag Day celebration said
William E. Leahy, selectiye service
director for the District and guest
speaker of the Elks, lis America S
way of hurllhg back into the teeth
of an embattled enemy the assur-
ance that out of this holocaust peace
will come again, a just peace, and
good peace
If we stand to its defense, it will
continue to fly. Should we fail, his
tory will record it as the last flag
that ever flew over a free people or
nation" he said.
Wounded Men introduced.
House Majority Leader McCor-
mack, member of the Elks, intro
duced % wounded and disabled
servicemen from the North African
campaign who are now convalescing
at Walter Reed Hospital.
In honoring them we are honor
/ ing members of the armed forces
wherever they might be who are
fighting to preserve the institutions
that we possess for this and gen.
erations of Americans to come" he
said.
Among patriotic organizations par
ticipating in the parade from the
Elks' Club to the Sylvan Theater
and in massing of the colors that
preceded the program were the Elks'
Boys Band. the Costello Post of
the American Legion, Veterans of
Foreign Wars and their auXiliaries,
Veterans of Foreign Wars Drum
and Bugle Corps. the 29th Division,
Disabled American Veterans and
auxiliary, Jewish War Veterans, the
Military Order of the Cootie, the
Military Order Of the Purple Heart,
the Military Order of the World
War, Spanish War Veterans. Army
and Navy Union and Auxiliary
Cootiettes, the Women's Relief
Corps, the American Red Cross and
the Metropolitan Police Boys Band,
Storm Halts Program.
Other features on the program,
which was abruptly terminated in
the middle of Mr.. Leahy's address
by storm. included a History of
the Flag" by allen j. Duvall. an
invocation by 1t. Comdr John Howe
Boslet, chaplain. United States Navy.
and the National anthem sung by
Marie Lund. The speakers were in
troduced by John E. Lynch, general
chairman of the Flag Day Com
mittee.
The American Legion ceremonies
at Meridian Hill Park at which Fred
G. Fraser of the Veterans Admins
tration, past department COM
mander, was the principal speaker,
opened with a concert by the United