Music Trade Review

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French & Sons Second Piano Plant
To Get Army-Navy "E" Award
Presentation ceremonies commemor-
ating the Army-Navy "E" award pre-
sented to Jesse French & Sons, New-
castle, Ind., were most impressive.
The presentation of Army-Navy "E"
Pennant was made by Major L. C. Ger-
ry one of us in the staff. This flag will
proudly wave above our plant as a
symbol of unusual cooperation and
effort, a willingness to do that little
extra that our Government needs in
this hour of stress, to help make sure
Ma/or L. C. Gerow, George M. Bundy. President of Selmer, and Lt. Commander M. K. Cofeman
during the Army-Navy "E" presentation to the Jesse French & Sons piano division of Selmer at
Newcastle, Indiana.
ow, Chief, Tank-Automotive Branch,
Cincinnati Ordnance District, and the
"E" Pennant was raised by the Color
Guard. George M. Bundy, President of
H. & A. Selmer, Inc., made the accept-
ance speech.
In accepting the "E" Award, George
M. Bundy, president, Selmer, Inc., said:
"This is one of the major moments
of my life, to accept this award flag
on behalf of the management and per-
sonnel of Jesse French & Sons.
"The award is made to each and ev-
that liberty is again the watchword
throughout the world.
"At this time, I want to sincerely
thank the Ordnance officials for their
continued confidence and cooperation
with us in carrying on our war manu-
facturing, without which this affair
tonight would not have been possible.
"While some of our personnel have
been with Jesse French as long as 40
years or more, a goodly number of the
key members of our staff have been
here for a comparatively brief time.
Major L. C. Gerow making presentation address of the Army-Navy " E "
28
All the staff members have joined
wholeheartedly in this work that brings
you wide acclaim today, the great hon-
or of the Army and Navy "E" award.
"Our personnel is trained primarily
to make articles that seem to fit best
into peacetime pursuits, musical in-
struments, but you have shown both
your versatility and patriotism by de-
livering a volume of satisfactory war
goods to our Armed forces.
"When peacetime comes I feel that
we can turn our hands successfully to
musical instrument production again
and of a quality to stimulate a demand
to create better jobs for all.
"It has often occurred to me that
undoubtedly musicians in Uncle Sam's
services in the far flung corners of the
world have been surprised to see the
names of Jesse French and Selmer on
trucks and other wartime products.
"To the musicians in attendance I
want to admit that I little dreamed
when I started to play clarinet in the
school orchestra of my home town that
it might lead to this moment.
"Let me extend to you Major Gerow,
Commander Coleman, Captain Hood,
Captain Aydt, Lieutenant Davis and
others representing the Armed Forces,
the heartfelt thanks of our entire staff
for coming to New Castle and helping
us tonight. It will never be forgotten,
and I, in turn, on behalf of our per-
sonnel, pledge to you that Jesse French
& Sons will not, for a moment, slacken
in their effort to have this flag waving
proudly in the breeze when our victori-
ous boys come home."
Presentation of "E" Emblems was
made by Lt. Commander M. K. Cole-
man, U.S.N.R., Executive Officer, Nav-
al Ordnance Plant, Indianapolis.
Flag to Jesse French & Sons piano division of Selmer at Newcastle. Ind.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MARCH, 1945