In his speech, President Patterson reviewed Booker T. Washington’s life and the progress he had wrought at Tuskegee Institute. 24 He quoted Washington’s personal credo: "I believe that any man’s life will be filled with constant unexpected encouragements if he makes up his mind to do his level best each day of his life – that is, tries to make each day as nearly as possible the highest mark of pure unselfish, useful living."
Postmaster General James A. Farley’s speech was broadcast on N.B.C. radio. He quoted Washington: "I want to see education as common as grain, and as free to all as sunshine and grass." Farley’s speech was reprinted by the Post Office Department and widely quoted in national newspapers and philatelic publications. 25
The world famous tenor Roland Hayes sang a work by Reginald Boardman, "Alabama Earth", written for the occasion, using words of Langston Hughes.
A children’s chorus sang, "Tuskegee’s Washington", written and conducted by Alberta Lillian Simms, Music Department, Tuskegee Institute. A copy of the words was distributed to attendees of the Founder’s Day Service.
After the services, the participants marched to Washington’s tomb nearby where the Tuskegee Club of Montgomery, AL laid a wreath.
The cachet printed by the Tuskegee Philatelic Club and advertised widely was by far the most popular.
To those who had subscribed, their cover enclosed a printed card thanking them for their participation and their support.
At the ceremony itself, the club also issued covers with hand-stamped cachets showing a likeness of Washington’s statue at his grave.
This hand stamp was also made available to anyone who requested it and is often seen on other cachet covers.
The cachet cover available directly from Tuskegee Institute showed Washington’s grave and statue.
The Sphinx Stamp Club of Charleston, W.Va. produced a cachet cover showing a likeness of Washington’s boyhood home in nearby Malden, W.Va.
The cover illustrated, addressed to Postmaster General Farley is in the James A. Farley collection donated to the Post Office Department and now located at the National Postal Museum. Inside the cover is a card indicating its source.