Evening star., 1947-05-31
Capital Joins
U. 5. ii, Homage
To War Dead
B-25s Drop Flowers
On Tomb in Rites
At Arlington

On ol11b IN Kites
At Arlington
The city continued on a iaoli-
day basis today after joining the
Nation yesterday in paying tribute
to its war dead in public and pri-
vate Memorial Day observances.
The thousands of Federal en-
ployes and many other workers were
enjoying a long week end occa-
stoned by the Friday holiday. Many
had left town, and others were en-
tertaining visitors to Washington.
Arlington Cemetery, where 70
years ago Gen, John A, Logan's
order creating Memorial Day was
observed for the first time, was the
center Of public observances yester-
day. Three BIS bombers dropped
flowers from their bomb bays over
the Tomb OF the Unknown Soldier
In an impressive conclusion to the
ceremonies.
Wreath Placed at Tomb.
Col. Don E. Lowry, White House
aide, representing President Tru-
man, placed a wreath at the tomb
at II am. in honor of the Nations
fallen heroes.
In exercises at Battle Ground
Cemetery, Senator Wiley, Republi-
can, of Wisconsin, eulogized those
who fought In all of Americas wars,
and called upon the living ito dedi-
cate ourselves to the cause which
they so nobly advanced"
It means, he went on, 'to prepare
ourselves and our beloved country
against any emergency that may be
before us In this atomic age.
"It also means to continue to
strive nobly and with great mission
for true international understand
ing among the nations"
Cites U. s. Leadership.
Pointing out that America has
been called to a position of leader
ship in the atomic age that Is
economic, political and social, he
said:
But while we make our supreme
effort to arrive at true international
friendship, and while we dedicate
our will and purpose for a just and
lasting peace, we recognize still that
eternal vigilance is the price of lib
erty. In this day and age, when
time and space have been rendered
meaningless by mans inventions,
vigilance is necessary on every
front"
Senator Wiley said the Nation
must be prepared mentally, know
ing that the peoples of the world
are still living on different strata of
development; that we and foreign
nations see things through different
eyes; that our past has been one of
devotion to peace, while the past of
peoples Of other countries has been
marred by invasion, by hatred, and
by war" w -.--y
These, he said, are the realities of
Memorial Day, 1947" BY paying
them heed, he went on, eve will be
paying tribute to those who stood
guard for us in the darkest days of
the Republic, and who saw the
battle through TO success"
Joint Exercises Held.
The exercises, which were held
Jointly by the GAR Memorial Day
Corp. and the Brightwood Citizens
Association, opened with brief re-
marks by John Clagett Proctor,
chairman, who introduced Charles
w. Ray, president emeritus of the
citizens association, who presided.
Fort Stevens Post, No. 80, of the
American Legion, participated in
the raising and saluting of the
colors.
John L. Bateman read the orders
of the GAR and the Invocation by
the Rev. G. Stewart Mckenzie, pas
tor of the Western Presbyterian
Church, followed.
Charles II. Bates read an original
poem entitled Washington" for
Mr.. Proctor, and Joseph A. Walker,
past commander of Fort Stevens
Post, read Lincolns Gettysburg ad-
dress. The Army Band furnished
music.
Children Of neighboring public
schools, under the direction of Mrs.
Angus Lamond, Sr., marched around
the graves, decorating them with
flowers, while the band played ap-
propriate music.
The ceremonies closed with a sa-
Lutte fired by a ceremonial detach-
ment from Fort Myer and taps by
bugler of the Army Band.
Preparedness Urged.
In observances at the Two Jima
Statue, Maj. Gen. l.. G. Shepherd,
Jr., assistant commandant of the
Marine Corps, declared, I'VE owe 1t
to ourselves and to our children to
demand 1nsurance-insurance in
the form of our own powerful armed
forces-to make sure that we are
protected"
I'VE sincerely want to depend
upon the United Nations as our
world police force" he said. He
added, however, that the Nation
must be protected If the police force
fails.
"1f the chances of war were only
one in million, we could not afford
to take this chance" he went on.
There is only one way to pay our
debt to the brave young men we
honor today, and that is to work and
strive and pray for the peace and
security for which they fought"