Evening star., 1944-03-05
Capital Sidelights
By Will P. Kennedy.


The record of Capt. Richard I. Bong,
who has been decorated 10 times, Is
brought to the attention of Congress by
Representative Karl Stefan of Nebraska,
reciting the fact that Bong and $50
other pilots have been awarded q total
Of $50 decorations, after receiving their
first training in Civil Aeronautics Ad-
ministration contract schools. They
have been decorated for bravery and
conspicuous gallantry in action. Five
Of them have received the Congressional
Medal Of Honor, the highest award this
Nation bestows.
Capt. Bong had his preliminary train
ing at Superior State Teachers' College,
Wisconsin. Another member OF the
group has been decorated nine times
and others seven times. More than 10
nave been decorated at least three
times each-quite a patriotic achieve
ment for youngsters just out Of school!
In addition to the Congressional
Medals Of Honor, given to i've, 10 have
received the Distinguished Service
Cross. 80 the Purple Heart, 81 the Navy
Cross and 125 the Silver Star.
Representative Stefan, himself a for
mer serviceman, declares that air
power is the key to victory, not only
until victory comes in this global war,
but to our national security and pros
perity In the future
THE training of these heroic airmen
began months before the Nazis attacked
Poland. They were ready to be taught
the tricks Of fighting in the air. The
pilots in the 'grasshopper squadrons,"
Mr.. Stefan explains, have made amaz-
ing contributions to the war and have
helped largely to build up our air
power. "Au this has been done by an
agency set up to promote peacetime
commerce OF the skies" he says. 1T Is
a perfect example of how our demo-
cratic system works at its best"
The briefest inaugural address" ever
given by any Of our 81 Presidents, cov-
ering period Of quadrennial inaugurals
for 155 years, was the second by George
Washington, March 4, 1893, which con-
sisted of only 135 words, taking less than
two minutes to read. His first inaugural
address, April 80, 1889, in Federal Hall,
New York City, contained some 1000
words.
The "lost" statue Of James Monroe is
at Ash Lawn, Va, where he spent 26
years OF his life. Unveiled April %,
1881, the 173d anniversary Of his birth,
1t Is the first statue Of Monroe, re-
sponsible author of the Monroe Doc
trine, nth President, soldier wounded
at the Battle of Trenton, four times a
foreign Minister Of the United States,
to be erected in his native State, and
the largest figure of any statue in the
State.
The titanic efigy is II feet high, carved
from solid block of marble more than
As years ago for Venezuela. The figure
weighs three tons and was cut by Atillio
Piccirilli, New York sculptor. on order
of President Crespo Of Venezuela, fol-
lowing a controversy between England
and the Latin American republic, in
which President Cleveland intervened
under the Monroe Doctrine President
Crespo planned to place the statue in
front of the Capitol at Caracas, but be-
fore It could be shipped revolution
resulted in the overthrow of the govern
ment and Crespo died in Jail.
4
One of the most human" and whole
some" OF George Washington's preserved
writings is letter Of advice to his niece,
Harriet Washington, dated Philadelphia,
October 30, 1791. Some IL years ago, at
the time of the Washington Bicenten-
nial Celebration, Senator Simeon D.
Fess, vice president of the commission
for the celebration, who for many years
had been q close student of the writ
ings Of the first President, called at
tention to this letter. He said: II wish
that every young woman in our fair land
would read It, 1t is full of excellent ad-
vice, and has q present-day appeal
perhaps more significant today than
then.
The first submarine was used In the
American Revolution. It figured in an
attempt to blow up Admiral Howe's flag
ship. the Eagle, anchored of the shore
Of Governors Island. A young Connec-
ticut mechanic, David Bushnell, had in
vented what he called . marine turtle"
II vas claimed that . daring man
enid uaovn s,ndNfvAAaf fastAn the