Evening star., 1947-05-12
Washington War Dead
And Service Mothers
Honored in Ceremony

b flower star OF yellow roses and
smother star of blue fowers-thoseI
were the symbols of the 18th an
naa1 commemorative observance at
the District World War Memorial
yesterday.
The ceremony, presented by the
District World War Memorial and
May Day Corporation and partici-
pating organizations, honored the
1,500 District men and women who
lost their lives in both World Wars
and to the mothers who gave their
sons and daughters to the country's
service.
In q memorial address, Maj. Gen.
q. S. Grant III, retired, chairman
of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, told the
hundreds who gathered before the
memorial:
while it is an obligation upon
us-to meet thus at appropriate times
In order to join in rites which keep
green and before us all the memory
of the patriot dead, such cere-
monies would be but a formal
gesture did we not stop to ask our
selves, What should we do, what
can we do to be worthy of them
to further the work they so well
advanced?'"
Duties of Community Cited.
He urged them to do whatever
they could to advance the idea that
ito exercise our full influence for
international peace and justice, the
United States must be strong"
Gen. Grant reminded the audi
ence that there were duties to per-
form, too, in the community to
carry out the ideals for which the
ones swho died had fought He
spoke of helping to make this a
good city in which to bring up chill
dren, of helping those who are
struggling to improve the social
conditions of the city and provide
adequately for the needs of a civil
lized life The sick and wounded
in OUR hospitals. he added, should
not be forgotten.
Let us today join in accepting |
mutually a solemn obligation 70
do our share unselfishly and patri-
otically, now while we still can, so
that we shall reap for our posterity
the full fruits of the victory they
won," Gen. Grant said. Then
only can it be said of us. as it Is of |
them, that we have emerged:
"Out of the strain of doing
Into the peace of done,
"Out of the thirst of pursuing
Into the rapture OF won."
Mothers Hear Tribute.
Mrs. Norton H. Pearl, national
president of the American Legion
auxiliary, made the Mothers Day
tribute. She spoke of the fortitude
OF the pioneer mothers and of those
who gave their sons ''to keep this
a pleasant land"-the mothers who
wear the gold star.
Pointing cut that the mothers give
the country its future citizens, Mrs
Pearl spoke sof the mothers as "the
promise of America"
Before her as she spoke were the
wreaths in the shape of gold star
and blue star. Mrs. Thomas G
McBroom, president of the Gold Star
Mothers, placed the wreath in be-
half of the mothers of the Districts
war dead, and Mrs. Halle H. Nc
Carteney placed the wreath In be-
half of the mothers whose service
sons and daughters still carry on"
Before the wreath professional,
young daughters of veterans carried
chain of poppies to entwine on a
white cross in front of the memorial.
The little girls in white were led by
Sarah Campbell, president of the
Girls Nation. Mrs. Edna Wright di-
rected the poppy professional.
l6 Wreaths Are Laid.
The National Guard of Honor of
the American Legion and the Vet
Grams of Foreign Wars Department
Guard of Honor stood at attention
and saluted as Haywood N. Saun-
ders, past department commander
of the Legion, called the roll OF
patriotic organizations participating
in the wreath professional. Sixteen
wreaths were laid before the me-
mortal.
A single wreath was placed at the
base of the poppy-laden white cross.
1t honored Harry w. Brown. who
died 13 days after being elected
Legion department commander in
August, 1916. A special tribute was
paid Mr.. Brown by Horace W. Line
burg, past department commander
Of the Legion.
A concert by the United States
Marine Band, conducted by Assistant
Leader Henry Weber, preceded the
ceremony which opened with the
massing of the colors. Miss Hilda
G. Nelson was the soloist.
william H. Hargrave, alternate
national committeeman of the Le-
gion, presided. Wade H. Taylor, Le-
gion department chaplain, offered
the invocation and the Rev. Robert
f. Lee pronounced the benediction