Evening star., 1949-02-13
Nation Tribute
To Lincoln Led
By Truman Here
Aides Present Wreath
At Memorial While
President Bures Head

At Memorial While
President Bures Head
President Truman led the Ma
ion yesterday in the observance
If Lincoln Day.
While Americans from coast to
coast joined in honoring the 140th
anniversary Of the
Great Emancipator, Mr.. Truman
made the traditional pilgrimage
to the marble memorial to the
Civil War President.
He motored to the ceremonies
half a mile from the White House
and stood at attention and at
ease for Is minutes during the
later part of the exercises. Thess
were sponsored jointly by the
National Park Service and the
Order of the Loyal Le-
gion.
The former battery commander
in the 35th Division in World War
I barred his head to the cold wind
as his aides marched through q
lane of servicemen and placed q
wreath of pink gladiloi at the base
of the memorial.
81 Groups Present Wreaths.
Before this simple act of horn-
age. wreaths were placed at the top
of the great flight of steps before
the seated figure of Lincoln by
the representatives of 81 mill
tary, patriotic and civic groups.
The aides who acted for the
President were Rear Admiral
Robert L. Dennison and Brig.
Gen. Robert B. Landry, for the
Navy and Air Force.
At the conclusion of the cere-
mony Mr.. Truman, whose parents
were Southern sympathizers in
the Civil War, shook hands with
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III, retired,
of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission,
who is the grandson of the Union
Army's commander.
With Slocum Kingsberry of the
Loyal Legion, Gen. Grant was CO.
chairman in charge Of the cere-
mony.
The ceremony began with the
United States Marine Band play
ing the national anthem as lines
of soldiers, sailors, Marines and
coast guardsmen stood at atten-
ton.
The first wreath presented was
from the District Commissioners
and it was brought by 1t. Col.
Carlin H. Whitesill. Assistant En-.
gineer Commissioner. The second
wreath was put in place by Rear
Admiral Reginald Belknap, COM
mander in chief of the Loyal
Legion.
Gettysburg Address Repeated.
One by one the representatives
Of various organizations passed be-
tween the lane of servicemen from
recent wars to pay homage to
Lincoln.
Mr.. Kingsberry repeated Lin
coins Gettysburg Address and
finally the Marine Band struck
up Hail to the Chief" The Presi-
dent. in a dark blue overcoat,
stepped from a White House auto
mobile and crossed the sidewalk
to the foot of the stone steps.
Massed before him were the
colors of scores of patriotic organ
izations. AS the men and women
bearing these colors marched down
the steps at the conclusion, Mr..
Truman stood at attention in q
bareheaded civilian salute.
Another observance of the Lin
coin anniversary will be held at
2:30 o'clock this afternoon in the
Lincoln Museum, the old Ford
Theater on Tenth street. where
the Civil War President was assas-
sinated the night of April IA. 1885.
The public is invited.
Illinois Delegation to Attend.
Senator Chapman, Democrat, Of
Kentucky will speak. He will be
introduced by Representative
O'Hara. Democrat. Of Illinois. Both
are authorities on Lincoln.
Members OF the Illinois delega-
ton in Congress are planning to
attend the ceremony in a group.
From Springfield, the district
which Lincoln represented in the
House, Representative Mack, DEM
ocrat. expects to fly in his own
plane. He was a Navy pilot during
the war.
A Lincoln Day exhibit has been
arranged at the Library of Con-
gress. This is made up of the
official copy of the Thirteenth
Amendment to the Constitution
with the signatures of Lincoln and
members of Congress. The orig
inal document is in the National
Archives. The exhibit will be dis
played through next Thursday.
Another Lincoln Day event is
the annual pilgrimage to the Lin
coin Memorial under auspices OF
the 18th Division of Public Schools.
This is composed of colored ele-
mentary schools in the Southeast
and Southwest sections. The pill
grimage will be held tomorrow,
having been changed from Friday.
It will begin with exercises at the
Anthony Bowen School. Delaware
avenue and M street S.W., at 1890
am. The address will be by M.
Julian West, a 18th Division alum
mis-