Evening star., 1944-11-23
Thanksgiving
Continued From First Page.)

ployes here in Washington, includ-
ing those in the war agencies, and
millions of other workers in essen
tial war industry, this was work
as usual" day, with the ThankSgiv-
ing dinner waiting until tonight.
While few Washingtonians were
able to obtain turkeys for their pri-
vate dinners, service men and wom-
en- on leave were to be the guests
of local USO clubs and other serv-
ice organizations at special turkey
dinners tonight.
Thanksgiving was observed today
by the District of Columbia and AZ
of the States, with Virginia and five
other States delaying their observ-
ance until next Thursday. Presi-
dent Roosevelt's proclamation set
ting the national observance today
was effective for Americans in other
parts of the world.
1t. Gen. Courtney H. Hodges told
his troops of the American lst
Army, driving inside Germany along
the approaches to Cologne:
1T is enough for us to know, that
because of you, people all over the
world today are giving thanks to
God Almighty Who has made pos
sible your vast achievement"
In London, buck privates and
colonies. Red Cross workers, nurses
and British civilians sat side by
side in bomb-scarred Westminster
Abbey and heard the Presidents
Thanksgiving proclamation read by
Ambassador John G. Winant.
Give Us Strength"
Give us the strength to travel
the hard road of courage" prayed
the Right Rev. Henry w. Hobson,
Episcopal Bishop of Southern Ohio.
who joined in the Abbey service.
The American colony in Moscow
celebrated Thanksgiving at two tur-
key dinners, one at the home of
Ambassador w. Averell Hartman
and the other at the Metropole Ho-
tel as the guests of Maj. Gen. j.
Russell Deane, chief of the United
States military mission to the
Soviet.
Chaplains with combat units at
the front or in towns near the front
held nonsectarian services. Catholic
religious services were held in the
famed Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris,
and in the Reims Cathedral.
Civilians of all faiths joined Amer
ican soldiers in st. Paul's American
Church in Rome to celebrate the
holiday Ambassador Alexander c.
Kirk read President Roosevelt S
Thanksgiving proclamation.
The town of Boston England, was
to entertain 100 American soldiers
and nurses at an evening Thanks
giving ball with music provided by
United States Army bands.
In Cherbourg, France, French
civilians and British troops joined
Americans in a festival evening at
the municipal theater.
The annual pan-American mass
at st. Patricks Catholic Church this
morning attracted large gathering
including Vice President and Mrs.
Wallace, dignitaries of Latin Amer
lean countries and Federal Govern
ment officials. The Most Rev. Am
leto Giovanni Cicognani, apostolic
delegate, pontif1cated, and Arch
bishop Michael ]. Curley of Balti-
more and Washington presided.
Special Thanksgiving services by
churches of all denominations were
planned through the day and to-
night. The Very Rev. John Wallace
Suter, dean of Washington Ca
thedral, ofhciated at communion
this morning at washington Ca
thedral. Some churches held addi-
tional services last night.
Closed for the day were banks,
department stores and most Of the
District government departments.
District Court was observing a
regular holiday, with no courts in
session and with the several clerks
Offices and Marriage License Bureau
closed. No further court. sessions
are scheduled until Monday. The
various court Offices and Marriage
License Bureau, however, will be
open again tomorrow and Saturday.