Evening star., 1947-05-19
Thousands Take Part
lin Area Observance
OF American Day

Thousands of Washington area
residents-some of them new Ameri-
can re-emphasized the i'm
portance of their citizenship yester-
day in three II Am an American
Day" ceremonies.
A crowd estimated at 10000 as
sembled at the Sylvan Theater on
Washington Monument grounds for
the Districts eighth, annual ohSer-
vance of the day. In Silver Spring
thousands watched parade and
attended ceremonies near the Silver
Spring Armory. In Alexandria,
citizenship rally at the National
Memorial Masonic Temple observed
the day
Attorney General Clark, address
ing the assembly on the Monument
grounds, told those who recently
have become 21 years old and newly
naturalized Americans that citizen
ship is 1.-The most. precious gift this
country has to Offer
Among those taking part in the
ceremonies were Edward j. Arnold,
the movie actor; Hildegarde, the
singer. and Waldron E. Leonard,
who brought the greetings OF the
District Commissioners.
Jet Planes Circle Area.
Two jet planes circled the area
during part of the observance, and
heavy bombers rumbled through
the skies.
Col. A. c. Oliver. retired Army
chaplain who suffered broken
neck as a japanese prisoner. opened
the ceremony with an invocation.
Massed colors were presented by the
national guard Of honor of the
American Legion and by the Vet
Grams of Foreign Wars guard OF
honor
The audience gave the pledge of
allegiance to the flag, then heard
America" sung by Maria de la
Hully of the Columbia Light Opera
Co., who, herself is recently natru-
rallied citizen.
The Attorney General told the
crowd that American citizenship
that gives so much, expects much
1T expects all Americans to be
alert guardians of our ideals, he
said. "and eternally vigilant against
those subversive elements that seek
to undermine, tear down and
destroy our form of Government.
Urges Watch for UndercOver Groups.
He called upon citizens to watch
for undercover groups who would
deny their fellow citizens the
privilege of freedom. justice and
equality" and urged naturalized
citizens to leave behind them the
conflicts of their native lands.
Mr.. Arnold. one of the founders
of II Am an American Day urged
that American citizens take the
obligation to vote as a serious one.
Hildegarde made a brief talk. MIR.
Clark, Hildegarde and Mr.. Arnold
gave personel congratulations to a
representative of the new American
citizens - Miss Candida Gonzalez,
1929 Belmont street NV. formerly
native of Spain.
The United States Army Band.
directed by Capt Hugh Curry, gave
a concert before the program, and
closed it with a retreat ceremony.
Others on the program included
Arnold Eidus. New York City vio-
linist. and the Howard University
choir directed by Warner Lawson.
500 Parade at Silver Spring.
More than 300 persons took part
in the parade which preceded the
Silver Spring celebration.
DR.. H. C. Byrd, president of the
University of Maryland, urged cit
izens to help those of other nations
reach the same living standards we
have here. He called upon youth to
maintain American principles SO the
future America viii be as firm and
enduring as it has been in the past
Brooke Johns, president of the
Board of County Commissioners,
presented SIS bonds and trophies to
winners of an essay contest on
What 1t Means to Be an American y
They were Daniel B. Levine, 1915
Takona avenue, Takoma Park. Md,
and Betty Virginia Gleim, 1910
Seminary road. Silver Spring.
At Arlington, James E. Palmer.
jr.. Justice Department attorney.
echoed the Attorney Generals warn
ing against alien ideologies.
1T is the robust quality Of free
dom, individualism. faith in tradi-
ton, self-reliance and reward for
inventiveness." he declared, that
unites and preserves us as Nation,
of different races and creeds, assur-
ing to all freedom from want and
under law. freedom of speech and
expression, freedom to worship God