Evening star., 1949-02-22
Patriotic Rites
Mark Birthday
OF washington
Alexandra Parade,
Wreath Laying at
Tomb High Lights

Tomb High Lights
Patriotic observances, centering
on the theme of rededication tt
the ideals for which George Wash
ington fought, today marked the
217th birth anniversary of the
Father of His Country.
A crowded calendar of tradi-
tional exercises, laying of wreaths
and a parade featured the holiday
observance.
AS If encouraging widespread
participation in the holiday events
the rain that fell f1tfully in the
early morning hours let up about
7 o'clock.
The end of the rain was good
news to Alexandria, where the only
parade in the area was scheduled
to begin at 2:30 pm. The nine
division parade, sponsored by the
Russell Mitchell Post of Veterans
of Foreign Wars and the Alex
andria Bicentennial Commission
was to do honor to the man who
lived nearby at Mount Vernon and
aided in the original planning OF
Alexandria.
Many Visitors Arrive.
Gov. Tuck of virginia planned
to ride in the first division of the
parade which featured military
men and equipment, floats. march
ing units and several bands.
Government workers, including
the postmen, had a holiday and
no regular mail deliveries were
scheduled.
Today was a holiday, too, for
District and Virginia school chill
dren but in nearby Maryland
there was school as usual.
Bank employees were given the
holiday and many store employees
had a short day after the hectic
morning of sales.
Crowds at patriotic observances
were Swelled with visitors from
out of town. Incoming traffic was
reported pretty heavy" at Union
Station yesterday.
Wreath Placed by Vaughan.
WaShinqtOn'S home and his
tomb were the scenes of many of
the observances.
President Truman's wreath was
placed on Washington's Tomb by
Maj. Gen. Harry H. Vaughan,
military aide to the President,
during the observance sponsored
by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Acting as representatives of the
VFW departments in their States,
one Senator and six Representa-
tives were scheduled to take part
in the ceremony. They included
Senator Cai13 Republican, of Que
gon, and Representatives Bennett,
Democrat, Of Florida; Brooks
Democrat. Of Louisiana: Boggs,
Republican, of Delaware; Nelson,
Republican. of Maine; Potter. Re-
publican, Of Michigan, and Van
Zandt. Republican, of Pennsyl-
vania.
Patriotic Societies to Meet.
One Of the larger observances
was a joint program sponsored by
the Sons of the Revolution
Daughters of the American Revo-
luton and Children of the Amer
lean Revolution in the Interior
Department Auditorium.
Senator Donnell. Republican, of
Missouri. principal speaker at the
ceremony. paid tribute to Wash
ington as a man whose contribu-
ton to America came chiefly from
the example of his personal life
and from public service as q
soldier and statesman.
THE integrity of his character
his wholesome home life and the
other qualities of his private cit
izenship have been a beneficial
national influence for which we
owe him our deepest gratitude, -
the speaker declared.
Senator Donnell pointed out
Washingtons advice against en-
tangling alliances and said it
would be interesting to note
whether Washington might have
expressed views favorable ito our
entry into the proposed North At
lantic Pact" if he could see pres
ent-day methods of swift trans
portation and the great dangers
of atomic energy.
500 Attend Observance.
More than 500 persons were
as the observance got un-
der way with a march of the COL
ors down the aisle to the platform
at the front of the auditorium.
The societies sponsoring the
celebration also were to lay a
wreath at the Washington Monu-
meit.
At the Capitol, both houses of
Congress met briefly to hear
George Washington's Farewell Ad-
dress before adjourning in his
memory. Senator Margaret Chase
Smith, Republican, of Maine, and
Representative Corbett, Republi-
can, of Pennsylvania, read the ad-
dress in their respective cham
bers.
A group of 500 Boy Scouts rep
resenting the entire Capital area
also made a pilgrimage to Mount
Vernon this morning where an
honor guard of five Scouts placed
a wreath on Washington's tomb.
Charles P. Wall. resident superin-
tendent of the estate, addressed
the group.
Led by members of George
Washington Post No. /, District
posts of the American Ieoior,