Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-04-22
American Legion
Sets New National
Membership Record

record. At the same time, 80 de-
partments reported their highest
membership in history.
The new total exceeded the ma
tional enrolment for the correspond
ing date a year ago by 212,454.
The number of posts also reached
an all-time high of 1890.
The District of Columbia Depart
ment was one of those to qualify for
two-star honors by exceeding their
l945 quotas.
The Department of the District OF
Columbia membership, according to
reports of Comdr. Lee r. Penning-
ton, has reached total Of 11,674,
and only $50 more memberships are
required to exceed the total 1914
membership.
The aerial membership roundup
terminates midnight on Tuesday.
All posts are requested to register
their new memberships and re-
newals with the department by that
date.
Legislation to amend the GI
Bill of Rights to make widows of
soldiers or sailors who die of serv-
ice-connected causes eligible for
benefits under the bill has been
introduced in Congress by Senator
Warren Magnuson, Democrat, of
Washington. The bill would apply
to all women who become war
widows before the end of hostilities.
Widows who remarry would not be
eligible for the benefits.
AT the naturalization proceedings,
to be held in Judge Matthew Nc
Cures Court, on May 13, when 100
or more foreigners will swear allegi-
ance to the United States, the Ma
tional Guard of Honor will present
the colors and an address to the new
citizens will be made by Department
Comdr. Pennington.
On Wednesday evening at STAINS
bury Hall the Society of the Forty
and Eight will hold it's annual
wreck" for a large class of candi-
dates. Grande Chef de Care Russell
Rafferty, will preside and Grand
Conductor w. Leo Collins will be
in charge of the floor activities.
National Cathedral Post has post
poned its regular meeting from
April rs to May 80 at the Legion
clubhouse.
The Department Executive Com
mittee will meet at the Legion club
house Thursday, when there will be
representatives from the Treasury
Department. including a speaker
from the armed forces, to discuss
The coming Seventh War Bond cam
paign.
Chairman John j. A. Ager of the
Department War Bond Committee
urges post commanders and War
Bond chairmen attend the meeting.
This department had its quota in
creased to 100000.
Costello Post has Endorsed one of
its members, Henry Heine, depart
ment membership officer, for depart
ment commander for the coming
year.
Chairman Russell S. Jeffreys of
the Americanism Commission re-
quests all posts sponsoring school
awards at graduation exercises dur
ing May and June to make immediate
arrangements for the presentation of
these awards. Any post, not as
signed to school and desiring to
participate, should contact him i'm
mediately, as there are still some
schools available for these awards.
Gen. q. S. Grant III, chairman of
the District of Columbia Depart
ment Red Cross Committee, has
requested the posts to supply certain
specific needs of the Red Cross for
use at hospitals in this area. The
list of needed articles has been for
warded to the various commanders
Of the posts for immediate attention.
George Rothe, commander of the
Sons of the Legion Detachment, re-
quests the posts to submit to him
the names of prospective members
for his organization He also de-
Sires the names of those sons who
care to join the Drum and Bugle
Corps which is now being formed.
He may be contacted at Franklin
1886. or at Legion headquarters.
On May 10, ceremonies will be
held at the District of Columbia
War Memorial, in which the Ma
tional Guard of Honor and Legion
naires will participate along with
various other veterans organizations
in this area.
Nominations for the Office of
junior vice commander will be made
at meeting of Tank Corps Post No.
10 at pm. tomorrow at the Ameri-
can Legion Club. Comdr. Foster
Wood will preside.
Meetings this week are:
MOrdav-Tank Germs poSt I.eoioy,