persons have been placed in these shelters. This stocking is a con-
tinuing process, and within the next several months we have reason
to believe all the shelters will be fully provisioned. Although shelter
space for 600, 000 persons is an encouraging accomplishment, it falls
short, distressingly short, of the amount of refuge that is needed in
Maryland. We have hope though that pending legislation in the
Congress will assist us in the advancement of the shelter program,
and we are all looking forward to a time when complete fallout
protection may be offered to all of our people.

I assure you that this Administration is fully cognizant of our
civil defense needs and objectives, and that we will continue to follow
it closely, with the aim of providing Maryland with the best possible
protection for its people. It is with great pride, then, that I now
dedicate this magnificent addition to the physical plant of our Civil
Defense Agency and Fire Service Extension Department. The fine
plant we now have will enhance the opportunities for instructions in
both areas of protection. It is the desire, I know, of both Civil Defense
and Fire Extension officials that these facilities be used by all Mary-
landers.

For the generous contributions from the federal government in the
construction, and for the cooperative attitude on the part of federal
officials in the planning and erection of the project, the people of
Maryland are most grateful. In appreciation of their help, we promise
them that full use will be made of the center so that it may provide
a new asset in the overall defense of our Nation. It is our hope and
our prayer that these new facilities which have been built here will
be used to enrich the lives of Marylanders of this generation and of
generations to come.

ADDRESS, COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE DIRECTORS MEETING

PIKESVILLE

October 11, 1963

General Van Brunt, directors of local Civil Defense agencies, ladies
and gentlemen:

I certainly am delighted to be with you this morning at this work
session of the annual County Civil Defense Directors meeting. I have
been participating regularly in these yearly events, and I expect that
any day you will be placing a CD band on my arm. I would in fact,
consider it quite an honor....

Ill