Evening star., 1953-04-12
Leaders
Arriving for
.62dCongress
By Frances Lide

Off1cials of the National So
ciety. Daughters of the Ameri.
can Revolution. already are ar.
irving in WASHINGTON for the
62nd Continental Congress Of
the OAR.
Mrs. James B. Patton. presi.
dent general, will call the five-
day convention to order the
evening of Monday, April 20. in
Constitution Hall.
A number Of preliminary ses-
Sions have been scheduled this
week. however. including a pill
grimage to Valley Forge, Pa. on
Saturday, for the dedication Of
the OAR Memorial Bell Tower.
Also on this weeks agenda are
cabinet meeting on Wednes-
day, followed by a party for the
press from 4 to 6 pm. at the
Mayf1ower Hotel. and an all
day meeting of the board Of
management on Friday.
The big pre-congress event
this year is the Valley Forge
pilgrimage which will mark the
conclusion of a project started
during the administration Of
Mrs. William H. Pouch in 1914.
A special train will take dele
gates from Washington early
Saturday and they will be Joined
at Philadelphia by groups COM
ing from other sections of the
country. Approximately 1000
are expected to attend.
The Memorial Bell Tower, 10.
Gated at the Valley Forge Ma
tional Park, will house the Ma
tional Carlton. 1t was erected
by the OAR at cost of approxi-
mately $360,000.
Mrs. Patton will make the
principal address at the dedica-
ton.
Also on the pre-congress call
endar is the traditional memorial
service to be held next Sunday
in Constitution Hall for members
who have died during the past
year. At the same gathering, the
Daughters will pay tribute to
the founders of the OAR in a
ceremony at the Founders Me-
mortal on the south grounds Of
national headquarters.
Mrs. Patton has announced
that the theme of the congress
will be Individual Responsible
ity." Her keynote address at the
opening session will be on that
subject and the theme will be
developed in subsequent meet
ings. Mrs. Geoffrey Creyke Of
Washington is in charge Of the
Program Committee.
In discussing the congress.
Mrs. Patton declared that the
society has never been in a more
favorable position as a patriotic
organization. Our membership
has steadily increased and the
work of the chapters and the
State organizations during the
past IL months has been at a
record high level" she said.
The president general. who
will complete her three-year
term of office at the convention.
pointed out, in addition to the
Memorial Bell Tower, contrihu-
ton of funds to pay for the OAR
building program carried out
several years ago have reduced
the debt to a minimum.
She expressed hope that the
balance of funds needed for the
two projects would be pledged
during the congress.
The triennial election Of ma
tional officers will be a highlight
of the meeting, with the out
come apparently assured. Miss
Gertrude S. Carraway OF New
Bern, N. c., now editor of the
OAR magazine, is unopposed so
far as a candidate for president
general and no opposition has
been announced for her asso-
ciate candidates.
Two Washington area women
Mrs. 'Creyke and Mrs. Robert
V. H. Duncan of Alexandria
are on the slate. Mrs. Duncan is
running for the Office of Or
ganizing secretary general and
Mrs. Creyke for librarian, gen.
eral.
In addition, there will be the
annual election Of vice presi-
dents general.
Nominations will be made
Wednesday evening and dele
gates will cast their ballots on
Thursday.
Following adjournment of the
congress on Friday. the Daugh-
terS will be received at the White
House at 3 pm. by Mrs. Eisen-
hover. The final banquet that
night will be held at the May
fnWor TY0fol