Evening star., 1957-04-07
Queen Crowned
As 5000 Shiyer
Gruenther Presides
At Blossom Fete

Blustery winds and chilly
weather yesterday made Miss
Alaska. Jean Marie Lee. the
most appropriate queen ever tc
reign over a Washington Cherry
Blossom Festival. Five thousand
spectators shivered with her al
the coronation.
The colorful spectacle will be
repeated at 2 pm. today under
the same nippy conditions cool
windy. with temperature about
so degrees. But a little more
sun is expected than broke
through yesterdays gray over
cast.
The blustery weather caused
cancellation Of a band concert
scheduled for 8 o'clock last night
at the jefferson Memorial. The
concert will be heard at ! pm,
today. preceding the pageant.
The weather had the bare
shouldered queen and her prin-
.cesses wearing coats and most
'of the spectators were in over
coats and mufflers. But the l9-
year-old blond queen from Fair
banks was a proud and happy
girl nonetheless.
Gen. Gruenther Presides
Gen. Alfred NJ. Gruenther
president of the American Red
Cross. officially placed the $780,
900 Crown Of Pearls on the head
of Miss Lee. symbolizing her
reign over Washingtons most
festive occasion.
Park police estimated the spec
tatorS at $500 but thousands of
others strolled or drove around
the Tidal Basin and the Jeffer-
son Memorial to admire the
frosty pink display of the trees
at their peak of blooming. All
seats were filled for the corona
ton and the musical pageant.
Seeming more hopeful than
accurate, the Air Force SYM
phony. the George Washington
University Glee Club. Irish Tenor
Morton Downey and other per-
formers presented a program of
numbers with names like Blue
Skies" Spring Is Here" Voice
OF Spring" and I'm Bel Di Zone
Fine Day."
Singer Applauded
The chilled but enthusiastic
crowd gave special hand to
Contralto Pat Randall. Miss
Randall appeared in a low-cut
gown that left her back, arms
and shoulders bare to the wind
The music became more tor
rid when Carlos and Rosita and
Ia small band launched into a
liumpy calypso routine. 1t grew
warmer still with a burst OF
Dixieland jazz from the Boiling
Air Force Base "Firehouse Five. /"
Then the So princesses were
presented by their military
escorts. Each curtsied prettily
in her ball gown. Most wore
coats or wraps.
The climax came when the
orchestra broke into "Pomp and
Circumstance" and the blue cur
tains we're drawn TO reveal Queen
Jean Marie standing on the
stage, surrounded by her court
.of princesses.
Edward J. Kelly. superin-
tendent OF National Capital
Parks and general chairman of
the festival. introduced Gen.
IGruenther.
A little 5-year-old. Laurie Will
son, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs
Charles Z. Wilson of 1910 Thorn
apple street, Chevy Chase, came
forward bearing the jeweled
crown before her.
Crown Gift Of Japan
The crown, gift of the people
OF japan and YaShitaka Mkt
motto. "the Pearl King of Japan, "
is made Of gold and thousands
of pearls.
Gen. Gruenther took the crown
from little Laurie and set IL on
Jean Marie's blond tresses. He
tied 1t with an elegant crimson
velvet ribbon beneath her chin
and the audience applauded
their approval.
The ceremony was broadcast
IN Japanese TO Japan and around
the world In English by the
Voice Of America.
The entire company returned
to the stage for the traditional
finale. Cherry Blossom Time. /"