Evening star., 1945-05-14
Legion Leader Urges
Compulsory Training
Al Memorial Service

Al Memorial Service
Paying tribute to departed COM
rades of both World Wars, Lee
Pennington, American Legion De.
partment commander, yesterday
called for compulsory military
training as the principal preventive
of another war.
The service at the District Worlc
War Memorial in Potomac Part
where he spoke was really "oul
own memorial day for the District
Of Columbia" Comdr. Pennington
told the audience which had bravec
brief rain just before the program
opened
Pointing out that the American
Legion long had demanded compul.
sorry military training, the speaker
declared that the lack of such 6
program was partly responsible fol
this war.
He called attention to present
Congress moves to establish such
training. and urged Americans "tc
| pledge ourselves that never agar
on earth will an outlaw nation bt
allowed to disturb the peace"
Auxiliary Leader Speaks.
Mrs. Charles B. Gilbert, of Nor.
wich, Conn, Legion auxiliary pres.
ldent, said it was fitting to observe
the day as one of prayer for vic.
tory over the japanese, and also a.
a tribute to motherhood on Moth.
er's Day.
To-day is not one of rejoicing.
she said. 1T is one of thanksgiv
ing that peace has come to par
OF the war" She also called fol
prayers for the success of the Sar
Francisco Conference.
Comdr. c. M. Drury. U. S. NJ, Dis.
trict chaplain of the Potomac Rivel
Command in offering the invoca.
ton called for "rededication of our.
selves to an unfinished task" HI
was introduced by Miss Mabel F
Staub. department president of the
auxiliary.
The program was brief, but col.
orful and impressive. Many were
kept away or left because of a rair
squall, which cleared just in time
for opening of formal ceremonies
The Marine Band, which was there
ready to present a concert and ac-
company the singing, left during
the downfall, so patriotic singing
by the audience was led without
accompaniment by Miss Hilda C
Nelson, who also presented two
solos.
Massing of the Colors.
The Legion national guard oi
honor, with Capt. Gale T. judo
directing, drew up at the south
front of the marble memorial be.
fore temporary white cross, ano
remained there during the program
Flags of many patriotic organiza.
tlons passed around the quadrangle
before the memorial in ''Massing O,
the Colors." Mrs. Della Luther was
marshal of the guard of honor
Her aides were Mrs. Marie Totter
and Mrs. Laura LipScomb.
More than 20 wreaths were Iaic
at the foot of the white cross a.
the guard of honor came to salute
A group OF Daughters of Worle
War Veterans, headed by Mis-:
Patricia Lipscomb, president of tht
Girls Nation of the Legion Auxil.
larry Juniors, laid a chain of poppie.
OF the cross for the 435 men ano
women whose names are inscribed
around the memorial base.
Gold Star Wreaths Laid,
Mrs. Fannie F. Meeks, presiden,
OF the Gold Star Mothers, placed q
wreath on behalf of the mothers OF
men and women who lost their lives
In the last war. Mrs. j. Paul Peters
of the District Salon of and 40
whose son, j. Paul Peters, jr., was
lost at Salerno, placed a wreath or
behalf Of the mothers of local mer
and women who lost their lives ir
this war.
/ Haywood Saunders, past depart.
[ment commander, presided during
the presentation of floral tributes.
William H. Hargrave, acting ma.
tIonal committeeman, who presid I'd
during the rest of the program. in.
troduced Frederick H. Brooke, me.
mortal architect, and said he re.
gretted that Frank B. Noyes, found.
er and chairman of the Memoria
commission, could not be present
because of illness.
Capt. Menicos N. Menicon. Army
chaplain from Fort Myer, pro.
nounced benediction and the pro.
gram closed with retiring of the col.
ors. 1t was the tenth annual com.
memorative observance at the me-
! mortal