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7338558
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Pool Report, Easter Sunday Services
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doc
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document
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naId
7338558
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item
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day
30
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1975-03-30
month
3
year
1975
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description
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nara-archive
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1
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f174151c8bcd3ce7
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Digitized from Box 9 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library March 30, 1975 POCL REPORT - EASTER SUNDAY SERVICES The Presidential party arrived at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert at approximately 11:03 a.m. The Fords were greeted by the Rector, Father John Dean Harrison, and by the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, Robert Wolterstorff. Included in the Presidential party were San Diego businessman Leon Parma, Parma's wife, Barbara, and three Parma children. According to Jack Hushen, the Fords and the Parmas have spent the last nine Easter holidays together. Parma is Chairman of the Board of the LaJolla Bank and Trust Company and a group executive of Teledyne Corporation, San Diego. (Bishop Wolterstorff flew from San Diego this morning in a plane provided by Parma.) The church is ten years old and might best be described as Southern California modern. The interior was a combination of adobe brick dark wood panelling. Seats 250. The church was decorated with spring flowers. It was a crowded church, although there were seats for everyone. The President, Mrs. Ford, Parma and Mrs. Parma shared a pew the second row back on the right side of the church facing the altar. Father Harrison welcomed the Fords and said "we are indeed honored to have the President and Mrs. Ford 11 Father Harrison said this wassomething he would remember for a long time. Bishop Wolterstorff delivered the main service (15 minutes long), in which he said "God's message is the same the world over. It is an Easter message not only for the affluent of Couthern California, but for the arid, drought- ridden Africa, strife-torn and starving Bangladesh, and Vietnam. The service itself was a "choral eucharist, the most elaborate service of the Episcopal Church used on special occasions such as Easter and Christmas. Most of the congregation took communion including the President and Mrs. Ford. Mrs. Ford was wearing a two piece coral suit with matching beige gloves and shoes The President was dressed in a dark blue suit, blue stripped shirt and dark blue figured tie. On departing the church, several spectators called 'Happy Easter, Mr. Ford." He responded, "Happy Easter to all of you." # # # Russ Ward John Herbers John Mashek