Evening star., 1948-05-24
Thousands Take Part
In Pre-Memoria| Day
Tributes 10 War Dead

Protestants and Catholics honoreo
the Nations war dead yesterday lr
pre- Memorial Day rites at Washing
ton Cathedral and Arlington Gene.
terry. Both services were held yes
terday so as not to conflict with
those scheduled next Sunday at
Arlington.
Speakers yesterday emphasized
the individual and national sacri-
fees which have gone into the fab
ric of American freedom and op-
portunity.
At the Cathedral, the Rt. Rev.
Angus Dun, Bishop of Washington,
led more than $500 persons in a
prayer for those who gave their
lives in war.
Veterans Attend Services.
The Bishops prayers opened serv-
ices in the Cathedral amphitheater,
sponsored by the Military Order of
the World Wars.
The services we're attended by
more than 100 veterans and civic
groups in the District, including
two American Legion posts. Con-
spicuously absent were representa-
tives of the Legion's District De-
partment, which declined to par
ticipate because, according to o. C.
Holleran, department commander,
they felt they were not granted
proper precedence in the line of
march into the amphitheater.
At Arlington the Most Rev. Pat
rick A. O'Boyle, Catholic arch
bishop of Washington, led repre-
sentatives of more than 80 national
and local Catholic organizations in
the 10th annual field mass for war
dead and for peace. These rites
were sponsored by the Washington
General Assembly, fourth degree.
Knights of Columbus.
Urges Constant Vigilance.
The sermon at Arlington was de-
livered by the Right Rev. John G..
Cartwright, rector of st. Matthews
Cathedral, who emphasized the ne
cessity for constant vigilance to pre-
serve peace.
Following the mass, honor guards
of the Knights of Columbus, Dis
abled American Veterans, Catholic
War Veterans, American Legion and
Irish War Veterans participated at
ceremonies in which the Most Rev.
Arcene Turquitil, Catholic bishop of
Alaska, blessed approximately 80
wreaths that were placed on the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Others who took part in the services
were the Most Rev. William R.
Arnold. former chief of the Army
Chaplain Corps, the Very Rev. Neil
Gargan, rector of st. Aloysius
Church. and the Rev. Joseph Moran.
pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle
Church.
In the principal address at the
cathedral, Maj Gen. Carl R. Gray,
veterans affairs administrator, re-
viewed the history of the American
flag and pointed to the almost
ceaseless struggle which has been
made to keep it symbol of oppor-
tunlty ana lfeeQOH.
Organizations Take Part.
Among the participating organ
izations were the Army, Navy and
Marine Corps, Veterans of Foreign
Wars, American Veterans Of World
War II, the United States Marine
Band. the cathedral boys choir
and two posts of the American
Legion.
The attitude Of the Legions
District Department was the sub
ject of comment later by Col. Edwin
S. Bethlehem, jr,, adjutant of the
Military Order of World Wars.
Col. Bethlehem explained that
the precedence given the District
was just behind regular
units of the Army and Navy and
in front of no less than 100 other
participating organizations.
I'VE got through the day, some
how, without them" Col. Bethlehem
said this morning, land in future
Military Order functions, if they
don't want to participate, we'll
probably get through, somehow,
AGAIN -