My son had the day off from school, and we looked at these pictures together and talked about what today meant. The pictures were touching and lovely. That said, I want Mrs. Coolidge's hat.

Thank you again stanton for shedding light on one of the great Shorpy pictures. It's great to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the pictures.

Coolidges Are Hosts at Fete to Veterans

White House Lawn is the Scene of
A Unique Garden Party

One thousand world war veterans in the service hospital in and around Washington were the guests in whose honor President and Mrs. Coolidge entertained at the first garden party of the season at the white house yesterday.

It was a red letter day for those heroes of America who are still paying the price of victory. The day was perfect as to sunshine and weather; pretty girls galore thronged the lawns eager to minister to the veterans' wants; high ranking officers of the army and navy, the Cabinet and uniformed groups of Red Cross workers helped to make the afternoon memorable for the guests.

Promptly at 4 o'clock the President and Mrs. Coolidge escorted by the President's military and naval aides in summer uniforms of white, came down the steps of the south portico and took their places under a spreading maple tree just a few yards from the driveyard.

As soon as the presidential party took their places the line of veterans was formed and passed before them while the Marine band played patriotic airs. The line that passed was a panorama of defenders of America. There were men in civilian clothes; but with medals of honor proudly displayed on their breast; men in army khaki, marine green and navy blue; Red Cross nurses, who had seen overseas service; men without arms, men blinded in battle, men on stretchers, men whose bodies were mere shells of what they once were, the mutilated who were carried by comrades to receive the presidential greetings.

It was a smiling President, a tender and sympathetic President and an equally smiling and sympathetic first lady of the land who greeted them.
...
The line of service men had passed when cheers rent the air as up the White House driveway dashed Tom Mix on his famous pony "Tony." Like boys running to a fire the veterans crowded around the popular actor. "Tom" was in fine feather and dashed up and down the White House driveway retrieving his hat from the ground as he rode at break neck speed, stood upright on the pommels of his saddle while he rode and performed other "stunts."

An interesting feature was the presence of a living bouquet of American Beauties, 48 girls from the veterans bureau representing the States of the union. They were dressed in light spring dresses of different colors and wore broad sashes on which were printed the names of the States they were sponsoring. This feature was arranged through Director General Hines and Mrs. Lillian M Pugh was in charge of the group

Washington Post, May 22, 1925