Evening star., 1944-02-14
President Lauds Work
Of Woman Marines
On First Anniversary

President Roosevelt hailed the
work of the Marine Corps Women's
Reserve as IAN outstanding ex-
ample" of the way in which Amer
lean women are meeting the re-
sponsibilities of war, in a message
addressed to the corps yesterday
on the first anniversary of its
founding.
His salutation was read by Mrs.
Roosevelt to $500 women marines
of the District area and to high
officers Of the Navy and Marine
Corps at exercises in the riding hall
at Fort Myer.s Guest speakers were
introduced by Maj Martrese T..
Ferguson, commanding officer of the
I'd Headquarters !, Battalion, sta
toned at Henderson Hall. After
ward Maj. Ferguson was hostess to
the visiting officers at a luncheon
THE Nation is proud OF you as of
your fellow marines-for marine
women are upholding the brilliant
traditions of the corps with a spirit
of loyalty and diligence worthy of
the highest admiration of all Amer
teams" the President said.
Many Duties Assumed.
"You have quickly and efficiently
taken over scores of different kinds
of duties that not long ago were
considered strictly masculine as
signments; and in doing so you have
freed large number of well-trained,
battle-ready men of the corps for
action in the great offensive relept-
lessly sweeping the japanese enemy
from the Pacific.
In this war, as never before
there has fallen on American wom-
en- the solemn responsibility, and the
solemn privilege, of taking most
vital part in the Nations march to
victory.
THE Marine Corps Women's Re-
serve is an outstanding example of
the dynamic way in which American
women are meeting that responsible
lty and making the most of that
privilege.
Il know I speak for every Ameri-
can in offering hearty congratula-
tions to you Of the Marine Corps
Women'S Reserve on the occasion of
the first anniversary of your service.
We shall watch your ever-expanding
accomplishments with utmost con-
f1dence and pride in the challenging
days and months that lie ahead"
The 1,500 marine women at Hen
herson Hall marched in smart mill
tary formation from there to Fort
Myer to greet their director, Col.
Ruth Cheney Streeter, and the as
sembled guests. They made color
full bank of dark green, relieved by
brilliant red splashes of muffers and
cap-cords, around the galleries of
the riding hall.
Brig. Gen. L. w. T. Waller, jr,
q. S. M. c., congratulating the corps
on its successful year, told the women
frankly that at the beginning their
presence in the corps was resented
by the old-line marines, and added:
But you have sold yourselves in
the last year. You are now marines"
Vandegrift Speaks.
The principal address was made
by 1t. Gen. Alexander A. Vande-
grift. commandant of the Marine
Corps and leader of the heroic in
vasion of Guadalcanal. He recalled
that when he was in the field he
heard with some misgivings of the
organization Of the women's corps,
but as more ana more marines, re-
placed by the women, arrived in the
theater of war, he realized that the
plan was not an empty gesture"
Since returning to the United
States, he added, he had seen the
highly useful work Of the womens
unit.
You may we'll feel" he said,
that you are taking part in the
Pacific fighting, because if it were
not for you many marines could
not be there"
The assembly sang the marine
hymn and Onward Christian Sol
diers."
Honor Guests Listed.
Aside from those mentioned
previously, the guests Of honor in
clude: Mrs. Henry A. Wallace, Act
Ing Secretary Of the Navy and Mrs.
Ralph A. Bard, Assistant Secretary
Of the Navy for Air and Mrs.
Artemus L. Gates, and Miss Cynthia
Gates, Representative Edith Nourse
Rogers, Representative and Mrs.
Melvin j. Mas, Representative
Frances P. Bolton, Representative
Margaret Chase Spith, Vice Ad-