European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 16, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 the stars and stripes thursday May 16/ for 3rd army div wives luncheon Mutha by Mary Ann Reese staff writer chairmen mrs. John s. Kennedy left and mrs. James h. Adres fad rest amid patriotic decor. It looked like a fourth of july Cele bration with All the red White an Blue the Leggy gals in miss Uncle Sam costumes and the Dixieland band decked out in Straw hats and striped , it was the 3rd army div officer wives clubs annual luncheon atthe Terrace club in Frankfurt. Three Hundred women from Hanau Gellhausen Buedingen Kirchberg Friedberg and Frankfurt Many of the wearing patriotic colors turned out for their biggest fund raising event of the year. And not too oddly their main concern was budgets. Not their own budget As much As Uncle Sam s. With a buy american theme the luncheon featured american made products and the guest speaker american Consul general James r. Johnstone of Frankfurt discussed the current . Balance of payments problems and told Why he supported the proposed 10 per cent surcharge tax  the luncheons sponsored annually by wives of officers in division head quarters and support command stationed in Frankfurt displays by German merchants usually have been  the suggestion of maj. Gen. W. G. Dolvin Cental chief of staff and f9rmer cd of the 3rd army div the wives this year decided to promote american products. We wrote 70 american firms in Europe and the . For Sample products said mrs. James h. Aarestad luncheon chairman. Some of the companies did t eve acknowledge our letters. But others were just  for proof there were tables of gift products including a camera electrical household appliances pen and Pencil sets Bowling Ball bag and shoes lamps sheets and Matching Pillow cases Bee Rand miscellaneous items. The women spent three months preparing the luncheon. During april most of our husbands were in the held said mrs. John s. Kennedy co chairman. So we held lots of potluck of James r. Johnstone dinners and the gals spent hours paint ing and  lots of ingenuity provided colourful patriotic table decorations at a Bare Bones budget of under $20, said mrs. Aarestad. Coffee and potato Chip can were converted into colourful Uncle Sam top hats and pyramids of red Whit and Blue boxes printed with made in .a." signs formed much of the decor. Name tags looked like customs slips. Funds raised through the luncheon will go to the senior officers advisory group. Which determines distribution of welfare funds said mrs. Albert Sanford luncheon fund raising , Dolvin introduced the guest speaker head of what she terme America s largest consulate. Johnstone praised the women for emphasizing american products and noted is photos by Merle Hunter the proposed 10 per cent surcharge tax though unpleasant is necessary. Some spending on foreign economies is unavoidable he conceded. We must have housing and Domestic  All like German Beer and he opera concerts and other places where behave Contact with our German neigh , Johnstone said we Are going to have to tighten our belts if americans to solve its balance of payments prob Lem. Better to do it now in a modest Way than to face the drastic measures which have been necessary on other occasions in other  we no doubt have done our share towards helping Stop the Gold flow said mrs Aarestad. At least we have made the women in our club Stop Ana think about the  fund raisers in miss Uncle Sam costumes were from left mesdames Albert Sanford Ronald Moran Jan Baldwin and Paul Fellencer. Luncheon guests wearing big hats included from mesdames William Hermann Larry Castle Jamie Hei