Evening star., 1944-01-19
1000 Here Pay Honor
10 Mabel I. boardman
For Red Cross Vision

~ IlOUV1 Ia DVOI UIluQIu
For Red Cross Vision
A thousand friends and co-work-
ers Of Miss Mabel T. Boardman, in
cluding some of the Nations leaders,
yesterday attended a testimonial
luncheon at the Statler Hotel, to pay
tribute to the pioneer Red Cross
executive for her more than 40 years
of unselfish service and her role in
building the Red Cross into the
great humanitarian organization it
is today.
Chief Justice Stone of the Su-
preme Court and Maj. Gen. A. A.
Vandergrift, commandant Of the
Marine Corps, were the principal
speakers, Telegraphic tributes read
John j. Pershing, Norman Davis,
chairman Of hte American Red
Cross, and Mrs. Dwight Davis, men,
Der Of the Central Committee, gov
erning body Of the Red Cross in this
country.
Halls Unselfish Labor.
Gen. Pershing's message said that
mo other living woman-or man
has labored more unselfishly for this
great organization" than Miss
Boardman.
"One Of the outstanding women of
America" was the description of Miss
Boardman given by Gen. Wander
grift.
II have been constantly amazed
by the variety, the scope and the
efficiency of Red Cross activities, y
Gen. Vandergrift said. wherever
I have gone, have seen and heard
eloquent tributes to the achieve
ments Of this association, which are
in turn tributes to the profound
vision, faith and industry with which
Miss Boardman has done so much
to make these successes possible"
A member of Red Cross in 1900
when 1t obtained its first charter
from Congress, Miss Boardman is
credited with having done much to
expand the organization from its
original membership of fewer than
1000 persons into the present net
work of more than 5000 chapters
and branches.
Raised $4,000, 900.
She has raised more than $2.OOO,-
900 for Red Cross work, and was
instrumental in obtaining construc-
ton Of the national headquarters
building here. 1t was Miss Board
man also who put Red Cross work.
ers into uniform, and as director Of
Volunteer Special Services con-
ceived and developed the organiza-
tion's nursing, first aid and life saw
Ing programs. In 1919 she became
secretary OF the American Red
Cross. a position she has held con-
currently for the past "a years.
In addition, Miss Boardman
founded the District Red Cross
chapter and has played q leading
role in its development. Until last
year, when she resigned, she was
chairman of Volunteer Special
Services Of the District Red Cross.
She still serves the District chapter
as second vice chairman and
member OF the Executive Commit
tee.
In his praise of Miss Boardman's
accomplishments, Chief Justice
Stone traced her Red Cross activ-
tiles and said:
1T has been said here In Wash
ington before, and 1t Is truth
worthy of repetition, that Mabel
Thorpe Boardman Is the Red Cross.
Her life has been so closely asso-
ciated with this great humanitar-
ian movement that she and the
Red Cross have become one and
inseparable In our minds"
Combine Praise.
Both Justice Stone and Gen. VAN
dergrift combined their praise OF
Miss Boardman's work with praise
Of the Red Cross.
Now in the Nations hour of
greatest need, Miss Boardman's
grand conception is bearing its
finest fruits" Justice Stone said.
I'm collecting lifesaving blood
plasma, in making millions of gar
ments and surgical dressings, in
bringing renewed courage to our
servicemen on every shell-torn bat
tlefield of the world, the Red Cross
has truly reached the pinnacle of
Its service"
Gen. Vandergrift dwelt on Red
Cross activities overseas, where, he
said, it is providing servicemen
with cheer, comfort and recrea-
tion," helping to relieve suffering,
and, through blood plasma, giving
some men the gift of life ITSELF"
The Marine commandant said
the Allied offensive In the Pacific
has taken, and will take, more
than a single line OF progress" He
warned that the cost may not
always be light"
Work to Be Accelerated.
"All this" he pointed out, means
that the need for Red Cross services
AL CAAC dSA1lC Wd1ldIc
Is going to be sharply accelerated"
Replying to the tributes, Miss
Boardman reviewed the growth of
the Red Cross, reporting that to-
day in this country there are more
than 100000 senior and Junior
Red Cross members.
Since the beginning of the war,
our volunteers have made one billion
articles, of which over 100000 900
were surgical dressings, she said.
Forty-three thousand nurses have
been recruited for the Army and
Navy, 1,250000 families have re-
ceived aid through the home service
Of the Red Cross, 5,750,0OO units of
blood plasma have been provided
and 100000 prisoner -of-war pack
ages are being forwarded every
month.
Primarily, the Red Cross was Gre
ated for war relief and today the
greatest demand in all its history
is upon its shoulders, Miss Board