Evening star., 1950-12-25
Americans Turn
To Prayers for
Men in Korea
Truman Leads Nation
In YuIe Observance
By Lighting Tree

To-Day was a Christmas devoted
largely to prayer for men at war
and hope that peace yet will come
on earth.
Even through the cheeriness
that is a part of every Yuletide
season. there were overtones that
seemed to give this Christmas a
deeper meanings of the first
Christmas.
1t was evident yesterday in the
address of President Truman, as
he turned on the myriad little
green and red lights of the
National Christmas Tree.
AT this Christmas time we
should renew our faith in God"
the President said. I'VE celebrate
the hour in which God came to
men. 1t is fitting that we should
turn to Him"
Truman Calls for Prayer.
To the 1000 gathered at the
south lawn of the White House
for the annual services, and the
thousands listening by radio, Mr..
Truman called for prayer "for q
peace which is based on righteous
ness"
He reminded the Nation that
thousands of our boys are on
the cold anu dreary battlefields Of
Korea"
Lighting of the huge spruce was
done in unusual Christmas eve
weather. During the afternoon
the temperature rose to SO de-
grees, 10 degrees under the all
time mark for that day. Today
and tomorrow will be colder, but
the Weathe, Bureau said no snow
was in signt.
Most of the crowd, except for
a few special guests, had to stand
outside the grounds along a high
grilled fence. The arrangement
was necessary because of the
White House renovation work.
Christmas music by the United
States Marine Band and the
American University Chorus set
the scene for Mr.. Truman to light
the tree by remote control from
his Independence (MoD home.
His address was recorded before
he left the Capital.
Greetings to Mr.. and Mrs. Tiu-
man were broadcast from the coll
orfully decorated speakers stand
by Patricia Rogers of Girl Scout
Troop 233. and Theodore E.
Schimpff of Boy Scout Troop 266.
I'VE hope that the radiance
from this National Christmas
tree will bring light to the hearts
of all people everywhere. said
Patricia.
"On this Christmas eve the
world is still strong for peace
peace on earth and goodwill to-
ward all men," Theodore said.
I'VE are proud. Mr.. President, that
Our country is dedicated to this
great cause. We stand firmly and
willingly behind this enormous
program and know that righteous
ness and justice. being on our
side, will prevail"
Tree Bursts Into Music.
The brilliantly festooned White
House tree seemed to set the
Christmas tempo. No sooner had
the last note of the national an
them died away, than the tree
appeared to burst into a rollicking
version of Jingle Bells" Actually.
the music came from loud speakers
concealed in the tree.
Last night other community tree
lighting events. carolling and
church services brought Christmas
eve to a busy close.
And today it was more of the
same, plus the morning of morn
ings for wide-eyed children. heaps
of goodies and all the things that
make Christmas the best day
OF all.
Travel Rush Is Awaited.
Special entertainment and din-
ners were arranged at all charit-
able institutions, hospitals and
penal institutions. Elaborate prep
arations had been made to see
that the needy found a measure
of 10y.
The movement of holiday trav-
elers dropped off to a trickle to-
day, but railroads. buslines, air.
lines and highway police braced
for a big homeward rush tonight
and tomorrow.
Something like 250,00O persons
were estimated to have left the
city for the three-day respite
from Government and other jobs.
Other thousands jammed trains.
planes and buses for visits to
Washington.