Evening star., 1946-05-20
Sylvan Theater Rites
Emphasize Theme
OF Americans All

Americans all, "one Nation in
dlvlsible, with liberty and Justice t.
all"
That was the theme of the prayer
said and of the speeches made. O
the songs sung and the tableaus en-
acted yesterday at the seventh an
nual observance of Il Am an Amer
can Day" at Sylvan Theater on tn
Washington Monument grounds.
Americans One and ALL "Tha
the third Sunday in May each yea
be set aside as Citizenship Day" TO
the recognition of all who, by com
ing of age or naturalization, hav,
attained the status of citizenship
and the day shall be designated a.
I Am an American Day" So reat
the Congressional Resolution of Ma,
3, 1910.
Freedom Gift of God
Those present yesterday, the l94t
date being set by President Truman
for that purpose, stood with bowee
heads as the Right Rev. Msgr. Johr
J. Russell, pastor of St. Patrick:
Church, declared in the invocation
"the right to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness is not the gift
Of the Government. 1t Is the gift o.
mans Creator They listened a:
Msgr. Russell added he who up.
builds a nations welfare in all thai
makes for its development in civili-
zation is the most patriotic" ol
citizens.
The theme was repeated in the
welcome to the new and old citizens
by John Wattawa. chairman OF the
committee for the District OF Co
lumbia. It's concept was emphasized
in the massing of the colors on the
greensward stage of the outdoor
theater and in the pledge OF al
legiance to the flag recited by the
throng with 1t. Col. Joseph j. NAL
10y serving as leader.
This Is My Country ano
America. the Beautiful were then
sung by the Howard University
Choir. directed by Warner Lawson
In the prayer for peace RABBI
Norman Gerstenfeld, spiritual lead
er of the Washington Hebrew Con-
eregation, supplicated open our eyes
so that as citizens of this free land
we shall rise to the duty that rests
upon us in this hour" and that we
do not fail the prayers Of a bleed
Ing humanity"
King Stresses Unity.
The unity of citizenship OF our
Nation was noted by Fleet Admiral
Ernest J. King, U. S. NJ, as he cited
views of George Washington, John
Jay and Theodore Roosevelt on the
subject.
The name of American must al
ways exalt the just pride OF patriot
ism more than any appellation de-
rived from local discrimination" was
Washington,s concept of citizenship
Admiral King said. He pointed out
that jay, first Chief Justice OF the
United States declared to all gen.
eral purposes we have uniformly
been one people and that Theo-
core NOOStNSll SiiSh =
can be no divided allegiance here
Any man who says that he is an
American, but something else also
is not an American at all.
The leader of the Nations Navy
during the past war stressed the re-
sponsibilities of citizenship to the
more than 1000 naturalized ano
other new citizens present. He
urged they learn not only the prin-
ciples of our Government but OF
other governments to better un-
derstand and appreciate the benefits
of the democracy that is synony-
nous with United States OF Amer
lea" Insisting that militant de-
mocracy is essential in the present
world, Admiral King asked his hear
ers to support our countrys efforts
mot only in a military but in an
economic and political sense tc
make the United Nations work. We
must be ready to support it not only
by words but by deeds" in the ira
dltion of Theodore Roosevelt, who
advocated we speak softly but carry
a big stick
Tableaux Given.
Tableaux of Nathan Hale giving
up his life for his country, of Abra-
ham Lincoln at Springfield, Walter
Reed In Panama and woodrow Will
son at Paris then followed, the parts
being taken by students of George
Washington University. Overhead
a flight formation of Navy planes
roared against the blue sky as the
national anthem. played by the
United States Marine Band, led by
Capt. William F. Santelmann, U. S.
M. c., was played.
New citizens, especially those re-
Gently graduated from the Ameri-
canization School at the Webster
School, gathered after the celebra-
ton was over to discuss their status
Salvatore Varriale. 81, Italian-borr
tailor who lives at 1130 Eighth street
NV, expressed pride in his citizen
ship. New citizens from other coun-
tries included Mrs. Jean r. Bern
stein, of 1921 Kenyon street NV.
of Canada: Mrs. Sadie Hurting, Of
317 Gallatin street NV. of Russia
and Mrs. Shirley Blau. of 4518 Geor.
gia avenue NV, of Poland.
AS the band played and tn.
WAVES, lady Marines, Red Cross
workers and nurses aides and patri.
otic and veterans organization:
came from both sides of the seat
ing arrangement to meet and march
up the center aisle two wounded
soldiers from Walter Reed Hospita
stood and watched with shining
eyes.
1T was fine, very fine" Pfc. Edwir
Anderson, 80, of Ridgeway. Pa, saic
of the celebration. He lost his lef
leg at Brest, France. on September
Is, 1914.
Impressed by Lincoln.
The event had dual meaning
for me-" Chaplain George E. Hay
den. 40, of Lebanon, ILL.,. remarked
THE tableau of Lincoln in Illinois
hit home because I am from tina
State, and the one on Walter Reet
in Panama was equally effective be
cause am now a patient at Waite
Reed Hospital" Chaplain Haydel
lost his left leg on December %
1914, at Linnich. Germany.
TT was wonderful the way peopl