Evening star., 1953-04-10
10000 Watch
Festival Parade
DespiteChi|| Air
Mussed Bogpipers
Called Best Feature
Of Blossom Event

nlgnC air, laSC night witnessed
a colorful Cherry Blossom Festi-
val Parade along K street NV.
The event. which took a little
more than rs minutes to pass the
reviewing stand on K street be-
tween Sixteenth and Seventeenth
streets NV, produced it's finest
attraction almost at the end.
Judges said the best feature
among the 80 units was the Bon
ME Scots Drum and Bugle Corps.
OF MillerSburg, Pa, composed Of
a solid mass of young people
moving along to the lilt of bag
pipes.
COvell Leads Parade.
The estimate of the crowd was
given by Deputy Police Chief
Howard Covell, whose motor
cycle men patrolled the 10-block
route to determine the number
of spectators. Inspector Covell
led the parade because Chief
Robert v. Murray was suffering
from a cold.
The Illuminated procession,
one Of the most popular events
of the current blossom festival,
stopped at the reviewing stand
so that Commissioner Samuel
Spencer, and Brig. Gen. Louis
Prentiss, the Engineer Commits
sioner, could take their seats.
From then on, the parade moved
exactly according to schedule.
There was no confusion as
the marchers formed in the early
evening at Ninth and K streets
NV. Having completed the line
of march. they disbanded equally
quietly at Twentieth and K.
The spectators, having been
assured that a threatening sprin-
kle of rain would vanish, lined
the curbs all the way. They
bought balloons and loked adj
miringly at row-on-row of fluor-
escent lighting in the Office build
ings along K street, that is, un-
til the marchers occupied all the
attention.
Spearheaded by Police.
The parade was led by the W
shaped motorcycle formation Of
the Police Department, followed
by Inspector Covell in a car and
then by the Commissioners Then.
one after the other, majorettes
from schools all over the country,
their bands, and marchers, and
such organization as the District
Boy Scouts and spectacular floats.
went by the guests at the re-
viewing stand. ,A
Meanwhile, searchlig hts
pierced the clear sky. and often
were aimed straight ahead on
the ground so that their rays
of gold and blue, created by spe-
cial reflectors, beamed right
down the parade route.
1t was a good parade, in the
opinion of the spectators. And.
according to Inspector Covell, it
was the best Cherry Blossom pa
rade in the history of WASH
ington.
In the reviewing stand area,
where loudspeakers were sta
toned, thousands of the spec
tators had a first-hand account
of what it was all about. through
the announcing of Bryson Rash,
commentator for WMAL and
WMAL-TV, The Stars stations.
Japan's Float Wins.
The floats brought praise from
all. The colorful District float
took third prize in this type Of
contest. which involved floats en-
tered by groups other than State
societies. It was sponsored by
the Merchants and Manufacture
ers' Association.
The top honor in this class was
taken by the Japan float, spon-
Sored by the Japanese-American
Citizens League. Second honors
went to the Capital Transit Co.
float, featuring an old-time
streetcar with passengers dressed
in the raiment of the Gay Nine
ties.
In the class of floats entered
by State societies, Puerto Rico
took first place, Louisiana. sec
ond, and New York, third.
The Charleroi (Pa.) High
School Band won first place for
bands entered by State societies,
with the Ashland (KyD High
School Band, second, and the
Plainville Comm High School
Band, third.
In bands entered by other
than State societies, Fleming
ton IN. J) High School Band
came out first, Orange County
IN. " Drum and Bugle Corps,
won second place. and Mary
Washington College All-Girl
Band, of Fredericksburg, Va,
came out third.
Arlington MajOrettes First.
The Arlington County (Va.)
Majorettes. placed first in the
class Of marching units entered
by State societies. They won
over the Murat Masonic Temples
Mounted Patrol, Of indianapolis,
Ind, second, and Jobs Daugh-
ters Drill Team, Of Silver Spring.
Md, third.
The Park Police Mounted
Squadron, with their high
schooled ebony black Morgan
horses, easily claimed first place
in the class of marching units
entered by groups other than
State societies. The Star.
Spangled Steppers of Staunton.
Va, were second. and Mallie
Theimer's Majorettes of Ports
mouth, Va, third.
trophies will be awarded to
first. second and third place
winners in all categories at
1880 pm. Sunday, at the Jeffer-
sen Memorial. preceding the
Cherry Blossom Festival Pageant
at 2 pm.
Other attractions in the
oorade u,nro the HcvnolIncf hore.