Evening star., 1951-11-23
Thanksgiving
Themes Stress
U. 5. Blessings
'TrioI and Danger Of
1921 Compared to
Todoy's Conditions

Thanksgiving Day was cele-
brated here by people of many
different faiths in services which
contained many illusions to the
first Thanksgiving of the Pill
grims in 1921.
That first Thanksgiving, speak
ers reminded. was in season of
trial and danger. ..
Services in the churches yes
terday all took that same theme
In this time of trial and danger,
it is time to recognize again the
blessings of freedom and bounti-
fulness that is the tradition of
the United States.
For Corpl. Robert L. Smith, 81,
of Walter Reed Hospital it was
the first social affair outside the
wards since he became America S
first quadruple amputee of the
Korean war.
He and two other men from the
hospital, Corpl. Daniel Floyd, 20,
and Pvt. John Connally. 81. had
the traditional turkey dinner at
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Julius
Sells. 1923 West Virginia avenue
NE. It was also celebration Of
Corpl. Smiths recent promotion
from private.
DPS Achieve Dream.
For Alexander Rottenberg. Rob-
ert ASsael, and LAID Jawr, Thanks
giving Day was the elimination
of a dream.
They were among a group of
displaced persons who feasted at
the Beth Ell Synagogue for their
first Thanksgiving Day dinner in
their new country They heard
themselves described by Rabbi
N H. Levinson as new Pilgrims
who, like the first Pilgrims, found
religious sanctuary here that was
denied them in their homelands.
For John Barrymore, jr., movie
star, 1t was a busy day of making
appearances and snatching a bite
OF turkey here and there.
In Washington for the opening
OF a new movie. he had dinner
with rs residents of the Hebrew
Home for the Aged. From there
he went to st. AIMS Infants
Asylum to dispose of a drumstick
He said Washington should be
proud Of its facilities for the un-
derprivileged.
Reason for Thanks.
For Sergt. Darmond F. Mas
singill. %. another patient at
Walter Reed Hospital, it was the
first solid meal in nearly a month
since he began to play touch and
60 with death because of o seri-
GUS kidney condition.
yep. I've got a lot of reasons
to be thankful" he said.
Sergt. Massingill owed his life
to an artificial kidney machine.
He was given emergency treat
ment at the hospital after his
kidneys stopped functioning and
was kept alive with fluids drained
into his veins.
For Corpl. Angel Gomez, %,
who Is at Walter Reed with both
legs end one arm gone, 1t was
his first trip home since Korea.
He went to visit his mother in
Baltimore.
At st. Patrick's Catholic Church
more than 1000 participated in
the traditional Pan American mass
and heard Coadjutor Bishop Will
liam A. Scully of Albany, N. Y,
speak OF the abundant natural
resources and spiritual heritage
OF faith and freedom of the ma
tions Of the Americas.
The mass was celebrated by the
Most Rev. Amelto G.. Cicognani
apostolic delegate to the United
States. with the Most Rev. Patrick
A. O'Boyle. archbishop Of Wash
ington, presiding.
Inter-Faith Service.
Protestant Churches joined with
the Washington Hebrew congre-
cation to hold the annual inter.
faith holiday service. The SER
mon was preached by the Rev
DR.. Albert p. Shirley of Mount
Vernon Place Methodist Church
who declared Americans have rea.
son to be thankful for the exist.
ence of a living God, for freedom
and for tndestructible human
values.
At the All Saints Episcopa
Church, the Rev. Charles w
Lowry titled his sermon Chris
and the American Way"
by this phase, the American
way we mean first of all tn
way Of freedom for the individua
as he lives, works and seeks hap
piness," he declared. 1--WE meal
the absence of coercion, duress
regimentation. We mean tn
preservation to every individua
Of basic human rights"
He said the American way ais
donated brotherhood and implie,
progress. prosperity. high livin
standards, constant material i'm
provement. free enterprise, efhci
ent organization, keen competi
ton, and is synonymous with pusl
and practically.
Cites Spiritual Liberty.
He went on to say that freedor
Is rooted in Christianity.
christianity from the begin
ming has meant spiritual liberty
This was the result of the ne,
creation in Christ; it was the ez
tension in sense of release an
freedom of the new life wlic
He brought.
christianity believes in free