Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-08-15
President Dedicafes
Legion Headquarters;
$500 al Ceremony

$500 al Ceremony
President Truman late yesterda,
dedicated the new American
Legion Washington Headquarter
Building, with about $500 persons
including Government, militar!
and diplomatic leaders, watching
the formal ceremony.
The building at 1903 K stree
NV, was erected at cost of clost
to 81 million.
Mr.. Truman dedicated the struc,
ture Immediately after making tht
principal address. He was intro
duced by Erie Cooke, jr., nationa
commander of the American
Legion.
Mr. Cooke pointed out that be.
hind the construction Of the build.
ing was a STORY Of sacrifice ane
belief in America" by Legionnaire.
everywhere. He said the building
represented, in very real sense
an investment shared by every
Legionnaire, and that it became &
reality because the members of the
organization had the vision anc
self-discipline to set aside funds
for its construction"
Special Efforts Mentioned.
In discussing special efforts by
individuals in connection with the
project, Mr.. Cooke singled out
Milo j. Warner of Toledo, Ohio
chairman of the Iegion's National
Building Committee, and S. Perry
Brown of Beaumont, Tex, men,
Der of the committee,
Mrs. Willis C. Reed, national
president of the American Legion
Auxiliary, said that because the
new building is in Washington
1t will be easier for the Legion to
foster it's rehabilitation and legis-
lative program
Commissioner F. Joseph Dono-
hue, chairman of the Dedication
Committee, acted as master of
ceremonies. He said the building
would for all time "be a monu-
ment to our dead comrades"
Washington headquarters of
the Legion has been in existence
here for about 80 years. In 1884
a converted residence standing
on the K street lot, which is so
feet wide and ITO feet long. was
purchased and occupied until the
beginning of construction on the
new building, late In 1949.
Building 7 Stories High,
The 7-story building is built of
reinforced concrete and steel. The
front is Of Indiana limestone, and
surmounting the K street facade
Is 13-foot statue representing
the American soldier. Above the
statue in huge letters is en-
blazoned "The American Legion "
At street level is a Legion en-
blem in bronze with the opening
line Of the preamble to the Amer
lean Legion constitution, For God
and Country" An aluminium and
glass facade extends from the first
floor to the roof line. The ceilings
are acoustically treated and wood
work and trim are of clear red
gum. The building is completely
air conditioned and Serviced by
two self-operating elevators.
Diplomats from many countries
were introduced by Commissioner
Donohue. The following Ambas-
sailors were present:
DR.. Hector David Castro of FL
Salvador, DR.. V. K. Wellington
Koo of China, Henrik de Kauff-
mann of Denmark, Nasrollah En-
tezem of Iran, DR.. Luis Francisco
Thomen of the Dominican Repub-
lie, Mauricio Nabuco of Brazil
DR.. Rafael de la Colina of Mexico,
Dr.. Rafael Heliodoro Vale of
Honduras, Charles D. B. King of
Liberia, Nine. Vijaya Lakshmi
Pandit of India. and DR.. Luis
Oscar Boettner of Paraguay.
Also DR.. Vladimir Popovic of
Yugoslavia, DR.. Luis Esteves Fer
nandez of Portugal, Athanase G.
Politis of Greece. Gustave Laraque
of Haiti, Abba Eban of Israel. j.
Rafael Oreamuno of Costa RIGA,
Augusto Dillon of Ecuador, Edu-
ardo Proper de Callejon of Spain,
pr. Alberto Dominguez-Campora
of Uruguay, DR.. John Myum
Chang of Korea, and Percy C.
Spender of Australia.
Faiz El-Khouri, the Syrian Min
lister; DR.. K. T. Jutila, the Min
lister of Finland, and Johannes
Kaiv, the Esthonian Minister, also
attended.
Other Noted Guests.
Other guests included Associate
Justice Minton of the Supreme
Court, Secretary of the Treasury
Snyder, Post Master General Dom
aldson, Secretary of Agriculture
Brannan, Secretary of the Army
Frank Pace, Secretary of the Air
Force Finletter, Deputy Secretary
of Defense Lovett, Gen. Hoyt S.
Vandenberg. Air Force chief of
staff; Gen. Clifton B. Gates, COM
mandant of the Marine Corps;
Vice Admiral Merlin O'Neill, COM
mandant of the Coast Guard, and
Thomas Whelan, Legionaire who
has just been named Ambassador
to Nicaragua.
Music was provided by the Army
Band. The invocation was given
by Rabbi David Lefkowitz, ma
tional chaplain of the Legion.
Morton Downey sang the National
Anthem. The benediction was by
DR.. William B. Adams, District
department chaplain.