Evening star., 1950-02-20
ID. {. Groups 10 Mark
Washington Birthday;
Truman Will Speak

Washington area patriotic and
civic organizations today were
putting the finishing touches on
plans for celebrating on Wednes-
day the 218th anniversary of the
birth of George Washington.
Leading the list of speakers
scheduled to pay homage to the
first President is President Tru-
man. He will speak at the unveil-
ing of a statue at the George
Washington Masonic National
Memorial at 2:30 pm.
Washington was a master of
the Alexandria Lodge of Masons
and the statue shows him in his
masonic regalia.
Other residents are preparing
for midweek holiday.
Offices to Close.
All Federal and District Gov
|ernment Offices will be closed for
the day, as will most businesses.
Retail merchants are bracing
themselves for their annual Wash
ington's birthday sales, which in
recent years have drawn throngs
to downtown Washington in
search of spectacular bargains
Many of the stores, however, are
open only until pm.
Washington area school chill
dren will get a day off, with the
possibility that their holiday
might be extended. School officials
are discussing the advisability of
keeping the schools for the re-
mainder of the week to conserve
the city's dwindling coal supply.
All branches of the Public
Library will be closed Wednes-
day, it has been announced. The
Central building, at Eighth and
K streets NV, will be open from
l to 9 pm; the children's room
from l to 6 pm.
Joint Observance Planned.
Among the more elaborate
celebrations planned is the 36th
joint observance of Washington S
birthday by the Daughters of the
American Revolution, Sons of the
Revolution. Sons of the Ameri-
can Revolution and Children of
the American Revolution.
Maj. Gen. Clovis E. Byers,
deputy director of the personnel
and administration division of
the Army general staff, will be
the speaker at ceremonies sched-
uled for 1890 am, at the De-
partmental auditorium. Eigh-
teenth and c streets NV. His
subject will be Washington and
the National Defense"
The program will include music
by the Marine Band.
Later, Maj. Gen. Patrick J. Hur-
ley will address the annual Wash
ington's Birthday luncheon of the
Sons of the, American Revolution
at 1870 am. at the Carlton Hotel.
Oldest Inhabitants to Meet.
The Association of Oldest In
habitants will hold a business
meeting at 1890 am. in the Old
Engine House, Nineteenth and H
streets NV. followed by patri-
otic program. The speaker will be
Senator Wiley, Republican, of
Wisconsin. An original poem will
be read by the association presi-
dent, John Clagett Proctor.
More than 1000 parishioners of
the Blessed Sacrament Catholic
Church of Alexandria will partic-
icipate in a demonstration for
world peace. The parish Holy
Name Society and the Capt. Ed
ward A. Duff Post of the Catholic
War Veterans will jointly sponsor
parade and military mass. The
parade will begin at $50 am. at
the darlington School and wend
its way through a half mile of
darlington and Alexandria streets,
ending at the church for 10 am.
mass.
At the National Archives exhi-
bition hall this week, a letter writ
ten by George Washington will be
featured in the exhibit for Broth
erhood Week. The letter, written
to the Hebrew Congregation at
Newport, R. l., states that the
Government "gives to bigotry no
sanction, to persecution no assist
lance"