Your Excellency.
The President of the United States
Hon. Mr. Herbert Hoover.,

Dear Scouter.

We are endvering for the first time in the history of the Boy Scouts of America to do a real good turn and that is to give the poor children and famlies of Gardena Valley, California 500 Stockings full of candy, nuts, fruit and toys, to the poor children and 25 baskets of good wholesome food to the poor and needy famlies in this district, to be held on Friday Evening Dec. 20th 1929 at 7.30 P.M.

We will have a large Christmas Tree and a real old fashion bonfire to which we expect 1000 Boy Scouts in uniform also a Boy Scout Band of 50 pieces.

Troop 253 is the youngest troop in the district and have work hard to put this Christmas Tree to the poor across and I think that if you, our Honorary President would be so kind as to send them a letter of good cheer that I can read to those 1000 boys, their parents and friends that evening Dec. 20th that it will go along ways in making real men out of these boys. We all look up to you as the ranking highest in Boy Scouts of America. Please send me a letter. Thanking you for the same, I remain.
                                                     Your humble servant,
                                                                Their Scoutmaster
                                                                        Louis Derocher
P. O. Box 54, Moneta, Calif.                         

"This is a faithful transcription of the original document."

December 14, 1929

My dear Mr. Derocher:

Your recent letter has been received and the President is very happy to know of your proposed Christmas celebration. He can not, however, send a personal letter. Because of the great number of requests for such letters which are being received, and the extreme pressure on the President's time, we have been compelled to ask his friends to excuse him, and I must do the same in this case.

I am exceedingly sorry to disappoint you but am sure you will understand the conditions confronting the President.

Sincerely yours,

GEORGE AKERSON
Secretary to the President

Mr. L Derocher,
P. O. Box 54,
Moneta, California.                                                                                 ric