Evening star., 1953-05-09
31,548 Youths
March Here as
$4,000 Look On
School Safety Parade
Led by Joe Di Maggie
Is Biggest Ever Held

An estimated $4,000 persons
lined Constitution avenue here
today to see thousands of young
sters march in the largest school
safety parade in the 17-year his
tory Of the event.
From over the Nation they
came to take part in the parade.
The American Automobile Asso-
citation. sponsor of the parade.
said the boys and girls marching
totaled 31.548.
Joe DiMaggio, former star of
the New York Yankees baseball
team, was honorary grand mar
shall. He also met the youngsters
last night at the drill COMPETE
tion held at the National Guard
Armory.
Many Bands in Line.
A breeze f1uttered bunting and
flags adorning the route from
Ninth street and Constitution
avenue NV. The boys and girls
marched to music of bands from
the Army, Navy, Air Force and
AlmaS Temple. Dozens of school
bands also were in the parade.
The parade formed early on
the Mall and began moving along
Constitution avenue at 9 am.
Units included 1000 patrol boys
and girls from the District, $500
from Maryland and 1000 from
Virginia.
At the head of the parade
was a V-shaped Gordon of motor
cycle police and soldiers. Police
Chief Robert V. Murray and
other officials of the Metropolitan
Police led the motorcade. Be-
hind them rode the six children
who yesterday were presented
gold Life Saving Awards by Vice
President Nixon for heroic deeds
in patrol work.
Wisconsin. Iowa and Florida.
Michigan, Delaware and New
York were the first States in
marching order. The District
of Columbia division was fourth
in line. The Districts contin-
gent consisted of IA units, one
from each police precinct.
Compete for Trophies.
The children snapped to at
tention as they passed the re-
viewing stand at Sixteenth
street and Constitution avenue
NV. Judges from the Ameri-
can Automobile Association and.
Cover ment representatives
later will award 80 national
and six State trophies for the
Disappearing unit, the best
float and other classifications,
including baton twirling and
unusual features.
One girl marcher, Susan Bo-
hannah, IL, of Atlanta, Ga,
tainted after marching five
blocks. She was taken to a Red
Cross first-aid tent for treat
ment by the Bethesda-Chevy
Chase rescue squad.
She said she had received a
tetanous shot yesterday for a
nail scratch on her leg and
hadn't been feeling very we'll
since.
Montgomery Blair High School
Of Silver Spring got a big hand
from the spectators. The band
of II pieces was led by 80 ma
jorettes. J
Di Maggie signed hundreds of
autographs as he stood in thes
reviewing stand after leading the
parade. Later he got in a con-
vertible and drove up and down
the parade route to speak to the
marching units.
Commissioners Renah F. Cam
alier. Samuel Spencer and Louis
w. PrentiSs also stood in the
reviewing stand taking the
SaluteS.
A modern day version of the
bicycle policeman got a big hand
from the spectators who were
lined three deep along the Ave-
nue.. This unit of 16 boys on
bicycles from Shenandoah Ele-
mentary School in Miami, Fla.
went through intricate maneu-
verS.
The floats all carried safety
Slogans-"No horse play in the
streets" Search for safety" and
"Safety's vision, life's decision"
were examples.
Three District teams captured