NBC Transmitter (Jan-Nov 1945)

4 ISBC Transmitter BOYS (AND GIRLS) FROM SYRACUSE PROUD OF HOME-MADE FLAG FLYING ON MANILA PALACE SYRACUSE, N. Y.— Over Malacaiian Palace, Horne of Philippiire Presidents in Manila, a hand-sewn American flag was flown a few days after the liberation and in the story behind that flag, and how it got there, is a “believe-it-or-not” that Ripley would love, for the flag was put there, really, by a band of enthusiastic boys and girls who appear on a children’s program over WSYR, NBC station here. That flag had been carried half way around the world by Brigadier-General Carlos P. Roinulo. It had been presented to General Douglas MacArthur. And when it was hoisted over Malacanan Palace, a Syracuse GI, who had been a worker in a Syracuse book factory when the flag was made, was the soldier who discovered that the kids’ flag was raised and he sent the word home. The story starts back in 1942, when MacArthur was leaving Bataan and American fortunes in the Pacific were dark. Ray Servatius, veteran continuity chief of WSYR and director of the Best Ice Cream Company’s “Juvenile Newspaper of the Air,’’ had an idea. He suggested that the kids, who come to the ])iogram from Boy Scout, Girl Scout, boys club and other youth organizations, change their show from the “Juvenile Newspaper’’ to the “Youth Fourth Front ” and devote their show and their efforts toward aiding in the fight. J he kids liked the idea, the Best Ice Cream Coni])any okayed it and the “Youth Fourth Front’’ began working on everything from scrap salvage to war loans. One of their projects was the making of an American flag. They made a big one —eight by ten feet. They cut each star and each stripe and sewed them into a beautiful flag. When it was finished the sponsor gave the kids a party. But that was only the beginning. On December 12. General Romulo. then a colonel, came to .Syracuse to speak in Fincoln Auditorium. After the lecture. Colonel Romulo was the guest of Colonel Harry C. Wilder, of WSYR, at a reception in Hotel Syracuse and was greeted there by H. R. Fkins, WSYR commentator, who was an old friend of Romulo in the better days in Manila. Fkins introduced Servatius and his youngsters to Romulo and they asked Romulo if he would take the flag back to the Pacific with him and present it to General MacArthur for them. Romulo agreed and the kids gave their hand-made banner into his keeping. Romulo promised to ask MacArthur to put up their flag in Manila when he went back. And that, apparently, was the end of the flag. MacArthur was then in Australia with his back to the wall. The Japs were just beginning to feel American might on Guadalcanal. But MacArthur went hack and, although the kids didn’t know it. so did their flag. Twenty-seven months later, Gorporal Anthony P. Romano, of Syracuse, who had been a worker in a book factory in Syracuse on December 12, 1943, when Romulo took the “Youth Fourth Front’’ flag, was working on a little four-page GI paper in the Philippines. He had a sheaf of items from a public relations officer and as he ran th rough them his eyes nearly popped out. For there it was, an item saying: V-E COVERAGE NEW YORK. — V-E Day arrived as this issue of The Transmitter w as en route to the printer. Just as in its coverage of all phases of World War II, NBC presented top-flight reporters, commentators and special event broadcasts to keep the public informed of the momentous happenings as victory was declared. The NBC program department, under Vice-President C. F. Menser. and the news and special events department, under William F. Brooks, was in gear for the V-E announcement. A detailed account of NBC’s V-E coverage w ill appear in the June Transmitter. “A hand-made American flag presented to Brigadier-General Carlos P. Romulo by Boy and Girl Scouts of Syracuse December 12, 1943, was hoisted in Malacanan recently.” And so, from a Syracuse GI in the Philippines, the word came back across the Pacific. General Romulo had not forgotten. J'he flag was up and the “Youth Fourth Front” had made it. The kids— and WSYR— feel pretty proud. VICTORY RA\NER—Roy and Girl Scouts from tt SYR's “Youth Fourth Front" program t presenting flag they made to Brigadier-General Garlos Romulo on December 12, 1943. Romulo carried flag to Mac.irthur in Australia. Today it dies over its destined place, Malacanan Palace, home of Philippine Presidents in Manila. Presenting the flag are Marilyn Farnharn, Robert Smith, \ancy .irnold, and Robert .4ble.