Evening star., 1943-07-31
11,7OO Parade
In Civil Defense
Volunteer !! Drive
lorqe Crowd Sees
Spectacle to Promote
Signing Of 10000
Pictures on Page A-12.)

civilian defense volunteers was un-
der way here today in the wake of
one OF Washington's largest parades
last night in which some 1l,700
participants marched along Pennsyl-
vania avenue for nearly three hours
before more than 10000 persons.
The demonstration. which in
cluded units of all branches of the
military service as well as every
phase of civilian defense here and
IN nearby Maryland and Virginia,
surpassed the expectations of on
eials, and gave them renewed hope
that their goal of 10000 volunteers
would be reached.
1t was Washinguons first big
parade of this war and probably will
be the last until the war is over,
officials said. 1t also marked the
third anniversary of the District
civilian defense recruitment pro-
gram.
Beginning at Fourth street and
the avenue and continuing to Fiji
teenth street, the parade opened
promptly at 6:15 pm. Darkness
found units still marching, and it
was not until about 9 pm. that the
last Of the parade had passed the
reviewing stand near Fourteenth
street, where city and military off,
cials and prominent civic leaders
were seated.
Spectators Gather Early.
Crowds began forming along the
avenue, where all traffic was halt
ed, more than an hour before the
parade began. Police said it was
one of the largest crowds in the
downtown area in several years.
Immediately following the parade,
Dean James M. Lands, national di-
rector of the Office of Civilian De-
tense, spoke from the steps of the
District Building and assisted in
the presentation of OCD ribbons and
citations to 35 volunteers who have
given more than 5000 hours of serv-
ice.
Warning against sense of false
security, Dean Lands declared
There can be no thought that
Washington or any other American
community is safe from all posi-
bility of enemy action" Any ma
tion's capital is always a choice tar
get. he asserted.
To let down our guard at this
time, when overseas the beginnings
of victory are seemingly within our
grasp, would be not only bad strategy
but faulty, unwise judgment" he
added.
Two. 5000 Hour Awards.
Awards, made by Commissioner
Guy Mason, went to Chief Air Raid
Warden William J. Mileham, Mrs.
Harry S. Bernton. Martha M. Nash,
Alfred A. Nash, Thomas w. Sandoz,
S. c. Tupman, Rowland Speer, Will
liam O'Conneil, Joseph B Levyg
John r. C. Sullivan, James A.
Brooks, Bertha c. Stroberg, Hart
man R. Keefer, Alice N. Rollins,
Thelma Morgan, Mrs. H. l.. Rust jr.,
Mrs. j. H. Kaufman, Mrs. Charles
DAILY, jr., Eneas F Mccartney, Frank
M. Dyer. Robert G. Mcclure, Charles
Henderson. Norman j. Moll, Hey
wood Saunders, Frances w. Lucas,
Paul M Yohe George L. Strong,
Walter C. Lockhard, Harriet @,
Long, Joseph Sanders, j. A. Brown,
Gertrude Sternhagen, Elmer john
son and George E. Cox The last
two have served 5000 hours each.
Among those reviewing the parade
were Maj. Gen. John T. Lewis, head
of the Military District of Washing
ton; Rear Admiral F. L. Reichmuth,
commandant of the Navy Yard and
the Potomac River Naval Command;
1t. Comdr. Dorothy Stratton, head
of the SPARS; Maj. Ruth Cheney
Streeter, head of the Marines
Women Reserve, and Col. Charles
w. Kutz, engineer Commissioner for
the District, who was grand marshal.
For the first time since the war.
civilians witnessed tanks and anti
aircraft units rumbling up the ave-
nue.. The military section of the
parade included a military police
detachment, an Army Engineers de-
tachment of colored soldiers, both
units with men carrying light packs
and fixed bayonets, and a mobile
force of jeeps, searchlights, heavy
antiaircraft and machine guns.
Woman Service Units March.
Units of WAVES, SPARS, WACS
and woman marines also were in
the line of march, and drew re-
peated applause from the crowds.
Fifteen bands we're dispersed
among the marchers, including an
Army Air Forces Band, the Navy
Band, the Marine Band, the Police
Boys Club Band and number of
local fraternal and veteran bands.
Each of the city's 66 defense areas
was represented, many with special
floats and placards calling for vol
unteers. The largest single unit was
the Mid-City Defense Area. Civilian