Evening star., 1959-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY 1859
MEMORIAL DAY 1859
Porodes, Heat, Prayer Mark Holiday

10y yesterday prou6nL with ~
tie contrast Of quiet prayer
and gay outings.
THE heavy heat added TO the
Silence Of the solemn crowd
tiIht filled the memorial amphi-
theater at Arlington National
CNmetery in witness Of the
Nations homage to It's fallen
warriors.
Elsewhere crowds were quick
euNd by the excitement Of pa
raHes and color guards. And at
other memorial places hushed
gatherings heard words Of re-
membrance.
IT was also Q day Of care
frRe relaxation. Thousands fed
I'd the beaches: cruisec on the
P@omac River and On Chesa-
pehke Bay: splasheu In area
swimming pools that marked
opkning day: stayed at home
IN the shade Of the backyard
tire.
At Arlington Cemetery thou
saNds silently watched as Sum-
neH q. Whittier, administrator
oflveterans affairs, placed the
Presidents wreath at the Tomb
Of the Unknown soldier. Mr..
Whittier warned Americans not
toneglect their freedom.
Urges Vigilance
I'VE realize It is not enough
TO light for freedom and per-
haps to die for it in time Of war
then to neglect 1t. to allow it
to Aanguish. after we have laid
doRn our arms" he said.
no keep our pledged word
win the gallant and the valiant
wlip rest here. we cannot allow
freedom to perish by default"
he added.
The Nation must remain
strong, Mr.. Whittier said, physi-
caliy, economically and moral
".
such strength" he added,
"can discourage the aggressor;
give pause to the sword rattler:
prevent him from daring to
propel' destruction toward our
boundaries or those of our al
li6&"
Nearly 1000 spectators
br4ged the heat to watch
Roekville'S annual Memorial
Day parade yesterday.
8tore than SO unitS-bands,
military platoons. majorettes.
killed bagpipers. fire depart
meat and rescue squad units.
Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl
Scouts. drill teams and vet
erans organizations-were in
the line of march.
The hour-long parade was
preceded by a wreath-laying
aIla ceremonial program led
by Rockville city officials. The
principal speaker was Admiral
Laurence A. Abercrombie, USN,
(rebO
Memorial Day greetings
from Pinneberg, Rockville's
sister city in Germany. were
read by Mayor Alexander j.
Greene.
additional observances are
scheduled for today. The
Uisfted Spanish War Veterans
Auxiliary will conduct cere-
mony at the Watergate at 2:30l
pr and the Woman's Relief
Cops, an auxiliary of the
Gland Army Of the Republic,
viii hold a service at Arling-
tor Memorial Bridge at 8 pm.
Traffic headed for the
beaches and other resorts, most
of Them just opening for the
season. was heavier than had
been predicted for the holiday.
A Spokesman for the American
Automobile Association said 1t
received a continual stream of
calls for directions on how to
get some place that might be
cooler.
The highways were expected
to become congested today
with a similar rush to nearby
play areas.
Thundershowers are forecast
for this afternoon, however.
and the temperature is not ex-
pected to shoot quite as high
as the 90 degrees that was re-
corded yesterday. It will be
mostly cloudy, the weatherman
said.
Yesterdays celebrations in
cluded the second annual Mem
orial Field Mass at the Gate of
Heaven Cemetery in Wheaton,
Nd The Very Rev. Msgr. D.
joseph Corbett. director of the
Corfraternity of Christian Doc
trine for the Archdiocese of
washington, stressed the need
for annual memorial services.
The Most Rev. Patrick A.
O'Boyle, Catholic Archbishop
of Washington, presided over
the celebration.
Flying Tigers Meet
A wreath laying ceremony
was held in Arlington Cemetery
at the grave of 1t. Gen. Claire
L. Chennault by the 14th Air
Force Association and the
American Volunteer Group AS
sociation, composed of men
who flew the China skies with
the famed Flying Tigers" gen.
eral.
Veterans units honored the
deceased at cemetery services
throughout the area. At one,
tribute was paid to Sergt. John
Basilone, the Medal of Honor
winner for whom American
Legion Post No. 109.is named.
He rests in Arlington Cemetery.
The annual observance was
also held at the Flaming
Sword" End Division Monument
at Seventeenth street and Con-
stitution avenue NV. attended
by representatives of France,
the NetherlandS- Turkey and