Evening star., 1947-05-18
Clark 10 Give Address
|Af Meeting Observing
Il Am American Day

Washington will join in the ma
tional observance OF j"I Am an
American Day" with ceremonies at
3 O'Clock this afternoon at the Syl-
van Theater on the Washington
Monument Grounds, with Attorney
General Clark as principal speaker.
President Truman has designated
today as the occasion for honoring
American citizenship by giving spe-
cial recognition to those who have
become naturalized or come OF age
during the last year.
Supplementing the Presidents
proclamation, the District Commis-
sioners asked local officials, patri-
otic, civic and educational organi-
cations to join In exercises "de-
signed to impress upon all our c1ti-
zens, both native-born and nat
uralized, the significance and re-
sponsibility with which each of
them is endowed by citizenship in
this Nation" = aa
At the observance this afternoon,
Edward Arnold, the movie actor
who aided In founding. the annual
observance, will present special
dramatization entitled Americans
ALL" lag ;: 3gs4
Maria de- la Hull to Sing.
Other features of the program
include the singing of America" by
Maria de la Hull of the Columbia
Light Opera Co., who recently be-
came an American citizen, and Sc
lections by Gene Archer, baritone;
Arnold Eidus, aviolinist, and the
Howard University choir, directed
by Warner Lawson.
Hildegarde, the radio star, will
bring greetings to the audience.
The invocation will be delivered
by Col. A. C. Oliver, retired Army
chaplain, who was subjected to the
Death March on Bataan and i'm
prisonment by the japanese.
The United States Army Band will
furnish music for an opening con-
cert and the impressive retreat cere-
mony.
Following welcome by Herbert J.
jacob, general chairman of the
IT Am an American Day" Commit
tee for the District, there will be a
massing of colors by the National
Guard of Honor of the American
Legion, commanded by Capt. James
c. Clarke, and the Guard of Honor
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
In the event of rain, the cere-
mony will be held in the De-
partmental Auditorium, Thirteenth
street and Constitution avenue.
5000 Chairs Provided.
Irving c. Root. superintendent of
National Capital Parks, said 5000
chairs were being put up at Sylvan
Theater for the event.
The District Committee for the
observance released the following
replies to the question. What Does
I Am an American Day mean to
you?"::
Brig. Gen. Claude B. Ferenbaugh,
commanding the Military District of
Washington: Nov more than ever,
we need willing and eager disciples
of our way of life, both here at
home where we are still learning
lessons in tolerance and co-opera-
ton, and abroad where we are try
ing to plant the seeds of our demo-
cratic ideals.
so we look to you to lead the
way who have recently and are
presently assuming the privileges
and responsibilities of citizenship In
these United States
Speaker Martin Of the House OF
Representatives: "I Am an Ameri-
can Day should be time when
every American might well pause
to reflect upon the real values OF
citizenship in this greatest of all
nations.
It means a way of life,
the principal aim of which Is to
provide better living and greater
happiness to all our people. Thou
sands of our youth have shed their
blood to preserve it. 1t is for us
the living, to hold fast to the
precious ideals and principles for
which they gave their aIl.''
Comment by Buck.
Chairman Buck Of the Senate
District Committee: It is "the OPP
portunity for each of us to take
stock of the many great privileges
which are ours.