Evening star., 1944-12-22


stores today and shopping was re-
ported heavy.
The city's holiday observance vii
be led by President Roosevelt. who
will give his annual address at Sill
pm. on Christmas eve. In thu
churches, elaborate musical pro.
grams have been arranged for boti
Christmas eve and Christmas Day.
AS thoughts turn inevitably tc
Washington's servicemen overseas
the city will remember them by en-
tertaining men and women In uni
form who are spending Christmas
here. In addition. thousands OF
Washingtonians will gather around
the 22nd National Community
Christmas Tree on the White House
lawn Christmas eve to sing carols
to be broadcast TO servicemen over
seas.
Special arrangements to house an
expected influx of hundreds OF serv-
fcemen over the Christmas week end
were announced by the lodging COM
mittee of the War Hospitality Com
mittce. Over 5000 beds will be avail
able TO servicemen tomorrow night
and . number OF lodging centers
will remain open for Christmas eve.
Householders Offer Rooms.
In addition, approximately 200
extra accommodations, many OF
them in the suburbs, have been list
ed by the American Women's Volun-
tary Service In response TO appeals
TO homeowners for rooms. The reg
ular AWVS room and lodging dis
patch service at the United Nations
Service Center will operate tomor-
row and Sunday as long as the
demand continues.
= Transient servicemen also were
urged TO inquire at information
desks OF downtown service clubs for
lodging accommodations.
At the many USO clubs In the
Washington area, stress will be laid
on the welcome home idea and plans
are being made to give all service
men and women and war workers q
taste OF Washington hospitality.
Formalities Forgotten.
With but few exceptions, Christ
mas dances and parties sponsored by
the USO will be simple affairs, with
men and women making their OWL
fun rather than having elaborate
forms Of entertainment
More than 800 service men and
women are expected at the Christ
mas dinner TO be given at pm.
tomorrow at the Central Union Mis-
sion, 613 c street NV, according TO
Herbert z. Eberhardt, mission su-
perintendent District Endeavor
Union members, led by President
Grace Lowell and Social Service
Chairman Ella Peckham, will give a
dinner program.
Free phone calls home for SOL
dier, sailor, marine and servicewom-
en- will be among the prizes at the
evening party at the mission. The
Bennett Memorial Service Club will
give the calls to the soldier ano
sailor; the Jean Bennett Guild fol
the servicewomen, and the En-.
deavor Union for the marine. Mu-
sician Julius Whittenger of the
Navy Band will lead the carol sing
ing.
More than 125 service men and
women will bear candles at a special
service at 7:3o pm.
Bags to Be Distributed.
A total of $50 Christmas bags will
be distributed among children at
tending the Christmas party at 2::3O
pm. Sunday in the mission chapel,
1t was announced.
Cathedral Post of the American
Legion will play Santa Claus at 2::3o
pm. Monday to children under 3
at the Washington Home for
Foundlings, a Community Chest
agency located at 1910 Forty-second
street NV. Nat Silverberg is chair
man of the Committee on Arrange
ments.
Santa Claus also is scheduled to
appear tonight for the benefit of
nursery school tots at Georgetown
House. 1924 N street NV. Toys
and candy will be distributed and
parents have been invited to attend.
Sergt. Jasper Post, No. 13, Amer
lean Legion, will distribute toys to
$50 needy children at its annual
Christmas party at 7:30 tonight in
the American Legion Clubhouse,
2417 Fifteenth street NV, Harold
j. Mclaughlin, chairman of the
Christmas Entertainment Commit
tee, announced today.
Food Baskets for Needy.
Tomorrow post members will dis
tribute 40 baskets of food to poor
families.
District Court today swung into
Its annual reduced schedule for the
Christmas holiday. No more trials
are scheduled until January 2. The
clerks offices, the Marriage License
Bureau and the Register of Wills Of
fice, however, will be open each week
day as usual except on Christmas
Day and New Year Day. A judge
will be on hand for emergency mat
ters, except on Christmas and Janu-
uary /.
A prayer for families who have
lost one member in the war has
been composed by DR.. Frederick E
Reissig, executive secretary of the
Washington Federation of Churches
The prayer follows:
Almighty God. in sending us Thy
Son, Jesus Christ, Thou didst give
us the rich experience of Christmas
for our homes.
I'm these tragic days when so
many families are Saddened by the
loss Of dear one, we pray that
Thou wilt be very near to each
of them.
Thou knowest the meaning of
giving Son for the sins of the
world, and Thou alone canst bring
comfort and peace to these lonely
hearts.
I'VE commit them to Thy loving
care and pray that the vacant
places may be filled with the pres
ence of Him who came that we
might have life.
''In the name and spirit of the
Christ OF Bethlehem. Amen"