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mdwdim Legiuiiuaires LuuKsng rorwaroTo Birmingham Convention Next WeekWM. S. PRITCHARDBirmingham, Ala., July 17.—Birmingham is draping itself in blue and gold as it prepares for the greatest invasion of the city by veterans since the World War. Legionnaires from the four corners of the state will advance on the Alabama Metropolis, on Sunday, July 22, for the three day session of the 16th annual convention of the Alabama. Department of the American Legion, which officially opens Monday, July 23rd.Members of the Jefferson County Council of Legion Posts have been working for months to complete a 1 1 arrangements for the* convention and Col. Wm. S. Pritchard, general convention chairman, now announc-es that the Magic City is ready to entertain its visitors as they have never been entertained before.Col Pritchard, head of the convention; Hugh Starnes, convention secretary; John P. Newsome, finance chairman; Miss Maude McLure, auxiliary convention chairman and numbers of other committee heads state that all of the details have been worked out for the convention which is expected to bring 5,000 visitors to Birmingham.Bach day as details of the various entertainments features are announced, it can be seen that the officials in charge have scared no expense to make the 16th annual convention the greatest in the history of the Alabama department.The air show at the Municipal airport will headline the array of entertainment features. Airmen from over the nation will come to Birmingham to compete in this show which will be held Monday afternoon and to which the public as well as the legionnaires are invited to attend fyee of charge. Navy teams from Pensacola, Army planes from Montgomery, planes from Ft. Benning. Nashville, and Atlanta will also be on hand to add to the event which promises to be one of the most spectacular in the history of the city.Another feature will be the formal guard mount to be engaged in by the 69th Coast Artillery and members of the Alabama National Guard at Woodrow Wilson Pa#rk, Tuesday afternoon. Many of the veterans have not seen this inspiring sight since their days in France and committee officials believe this will bring back many memories to the boys who served overseas in the years of 1917-1918.The official parade featured by the appearance of the 69th Coast Artlilery band, the drum and bugle corps, of Anniston, Ala., Post No. 26; the drum and bugle corps of Alabama Post No. Ill; the Gen. Gorgas Post band; Hie Avondale Mills Band; the police b^id and numerous other music producinOunits from over the state. The parade will start from Woodrow Wilson Park at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.Tuesday evening will witness the timers fiddlers contest, followed by the grand ball a.t the municipal auditorium led by State Commander W. A. Abramson and State Auxiliary President, Mrs. C. L. SaJter, Mrs. William Henry Biester, Jr., of Philadelphia, National Auxiliary President, will be in the reviewing stapd and will acknowledge the leaders and their partners as they pass her in the grand march.The memoria.l services at Legion Field, with George Lewis Bailes in charge, is a forerunner to the convention opening. This will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Convention headquarters of the Legion will be opened at the Tutwiler Hotel at noon on Sunday and the auxiliary members will open their headquarters in the Thomas Jefferson Hotel at 3:00 p.m. Sunday.The first official business session will be held at the auditorium at 9:00 a.m. Monday with Commander Abramson calling the meeting to order. After the introduction of various guests and the welcoming addresses, Senator Hugo Black will address the gathering. Another feature of this session will be the introduction of Mrs. Chas. Miller, Little Rock, National Vice President of the •Auxiliary.John Thomas Taylor, vice chairman of the National Legislative Committee of the Legion, will be the principal speaker at the Tuesday morning jession. Mrs. Biester is scheduled to arrive at noon Tuesday and will probably address the auxiliary in the afternoon.The election of officers and selection of the 1935 meeting place will mark the concluding business session Wednesday morning.Manager Bill Young of station WBRC plans to broadcast several of the convention sessions. His schedule calls for a. broadcast of Senator Black’s address around 10:30 a.m. Monday; broadcast of a portion of the old fiddlers convention and the grand march Tuesday afternoon and the result of the election of officers and selection of next year’s meeting place, Wednesday morning.In addition to the principal convention features there will be a 4 and 8, 8 and 40 banquets; the dance of the One-Won Club; the legislative and Unit dinners and the wrestling match at the municipal auditorium Monday afternoon to which official legion delegates will be admitted free of charge.Athletic contests will also be held , in conjunction with tHe convention. The American Legion Junior Baseball Tournament will be played at Howard College, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and a golf tournament for the legionnaires will be held Wednes-j day afternoon. There will also be a swimming meet for the youngsters I at the Birmingham Athletic Club at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and the city municipal pools and the Y. M. C. A. Facilities will be available during the three days by all registered delegate-
Newspaper Details
Clanton Union Banner
Clanton, Alabama, US
Thu, Jul 19, 1934
Page 1
Full Page
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Abigail S.
NY, USA 05 Oct 2020
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