The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 10

ij "-p 1 ir11 1 Millions nearly span nation holding hands to fight hunger work up to the final minute, not all the gaps were closed by 3 p.m. EDT when the line formed. Based on estimates provided by local organizers, at least 4.9 million people participated. In New Hampshire, as many as 5,000 people joined hands at Hampton Beach around a large sand sculpture of the United States, symbolizing the nationwide effort. "We were thrilled to death about it," said Glen French, head of the Hampton Beach Chamber of Commerce.

He said some participants dropped money or checks into a picnic In Vermont, up to 9,000 people joined hands in separate parts of the state. About 2,000 residents formed a chain in downtown Burlington, while another 6,000 people in central Vermont spanned sections of a 7-mile strip between Barre and the State House in Montpelier, organizers estimated. Other, smaller chains were formed elsewhere. New Jersey organizers said that 200,000 people 80,000 more than needed completed the state's 88-mile line. Kentucky or- Hands Across Massachusetts participants raise their clasped hands in delight on Boston Common yesterday.

globe taff photo by john blanding photo 6,000 in Hub join! human chain HANDS Continued from Page 1 White House staff and their families as the link wound its way along the front driveway of the White House. The president and his wife made only cameo appearances, with the principal role of organizing the Reagans' entry into the event orchestrated by his older daughter, Maureen. As the president and his wife waited inside for the event to begin, Maureen Reagan moved among a crowd of White House officials and their families sipping lemonade and ice tea in the Jacqueline Kennedy gardens behind the White House. Moments before the nationwide linkup, Secret Service officers opened the heavy iron gates on Pennsylvania Avenue at both entrances to the White House driveway. White House participants at the gates held hands with members of the general public, completing the chain.

Organizers had said they needed more than 5 million people to form the chain, and hoped to raise $50 million or more for the hungry and the homeless. Despite frantic I r'l i t' 1 Tr ganizers claimed they filled their 52-mile segment, Illinois reported a near solid 65 miles of people in one stretch, and the 12-mile link through Manhattan was nine-deep in some places. In the California desert, however, gaps as long as five miles were seen. Dennis Walto, operations director for New Mexico, said the turnout of 238,000 people including some from out of state amounted to 17 percent of the state's population. There were gaps, he said, but none longer than a mile.

There were no reports of injuries or other incidents in the line. The route was marked by balloons, flags and clanging church bells. "The important thing is there is a real consciousness being raised," said actress Shari Bela-fonte in Long Beach. "My family has been involved in causes since Day One. It's awesome.

It's being a part of history." Added actor Ben Vereen: "America, you look beautiful today." Originally, everyone in line was asked to contribute $10 or more with T-shirts and visors offered for larger donations but in the final days organizers simply urged people to show up and contribute later. In Philadelphia, about 30 members of United American Indians of Delaware Valley were in line in front of the Liberty Bell in full costume, and about as many handicapped children one dressed as Uncle Sam and another as the Statue of Liberty were in wheelchairs in the line at Arcadia, Ind. Cincinnati Reds outfielder Dave Parker and five Pirates players held hands with hundreds of Little Leaguers before the Reds-Pirates game in Pittsburgh. The line cut through the grandstands later in the day but Reds player-manager Pete Rose, a national Hands chairman, balked at interrupting the game to let the line cross the field as originally planned. As the line stretched east from Indianapolis past growing corn, one of the local organizers, Joe DiEduardo, 46, shouted.

"My mother's in New Jersey, squeeze her hand." BOSTON Continued from Page 1 from Kennedy. Stuart Apony, a volunteer organizer, had done the coaxing, saying later, "I thought it might be nice to get him into it." In terms of collective expressionism, yesterday's squiggling loop was a variation of the human "waves" that sometimes sweep through ballparks or sports arenas. But unlike those spirited outpourings of fan loyalty for the hometown team, the statement yesterday was social part of the larger call made across the nation to meet the needs of the homeless and hungry. "We as a nation are showing that we have a conscience," Kennedy yelled to a cheering audience from the steps of the State House. "America the beautiful can never be America the beautiful as long as it is America the hungry." Kennedy criticized President Reagan for statements made last week that homelessness and hunger in the United States persist because of Ignorance among those in need about where to get help.

Kennedy said, "Those in the White House who do not understand the plight of the homeless are the ignorant individuals." Underneath his suit, Kennedy sported one of the red, white and blue Hands Across America T- shirts that by midafternoon had become part of the dress code in Back Bay. During the formation, Kennedy broke from his spot in line and walked down the Beacon Street side of the Common, signing autographs, greeting and praising other participants. It was instant social activism that assembled quickly, lasted about 20 minutes, and then scattered. The registration fee to stand in line was $10. For $25, you could stand in line and also receive a Hands Across Massachusetts T-shirt.

The money raised in Boston will be administered by the USA for Africa Foundation, organizers of the national event. State groups will eventually apply to the foundation for aid to support local programs for the homeless and hungry. "I think people are feeling a lot of negativeness and helplessness in this country, and holding hands can Inspire them a little bit." said Barbara Storper, 31, a nutritionist and Juggler from Jamaica Plain, before the line forjned. Barbara Dugan, 54, of Brook-line brought her 9-year-old granddaughter. "I think it's people power;" she said.

"It's a grass-roots thing. It raises consciousness. Even the people who go by in cars and see this, it forces them to think a little bit." More than 4,000 people prere-gistered for the event, organizers, said. The goal was to attract 10,000. Yesterday's chain came together suddenly.

Early in the after-; noon, volunteers scrambled to set up tables, hook up loudspeakers, hang banners and distribute T-shirts. Volunteers were at 12 registration booths along the route. i They recruited participants' from passing cars and from families on Sunday strolls in the Common and along the river. Sections of the line began forming about 2:30 p.m., but for the next 15 min-! utes, there were still large gaps. Then, a few minutes before the 3 p.m.

deadline, people quickly gathered, grabbed hands and formed the human link. The Common is a popular gathering spot for the city's homeless. Some were puzzled and unfamiliar with yesterday's fund-raiser. Others were impressed. "Don't you think anything done to help needy people is excellent?" asked Jim, a bearded man who wore a green wool cap and blue down jacket while seated on a bench reading a newspaper.

He said he was 73 and "a man of the street." "I don't think ringing doorbells to raise money for the Vanderbilts would be praiseworthy, but this is." he said. A VsAv-s t-mm MT vi ''fed A laughing Maureen Reagan raises the hands of children who share line with her and her father, President Reagan, and his wife, Nancy. UPI PHOTO We're closed today, Memorial Day -open late tomorrow, Tuesday The summer weight sale our own fine suits and sportswear plus designer selections 20 to 30 off" 78 nations for hungry By J.T. Nguyen United Press International NEW YORK A Sudanese runner lit a flame yesterday at the United Nations and dispatched 20 million runners In 78 countries for a global "race against time" to raise $100 million for the hungry of Africa. "It's been a great day," said Bob Geldof In London.

Geldof. a singer for the Irish rock group Boomtown Rats, Is the driving force behind Sport Aid, the group created to organize the event. At 1 1 a.m., the Sudanese distance runner, Omar Khalifa, lit the flame with the torch he had carried through 12 countries since it was kindled at a refugee camp In his homeland. The Idea behind Sport Aid Is to get people to run In one of yesterday's races, In order to raise money for Afrlca'9 hungry. There are 7 million hungry In Ethiopia and the Sudan alone, according to the United Nations.

The United Nations was cho hold races in Africa sen as the focus of the event be-! cause the UN General Assembly begins its first special session on Africa and its food crisis tomorrow. In 273 cities, from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to Wellington, New Zealand, athletes, politicians, pop stars and millions of ordinary people on five continents participated In simultaneous sponsored events. The $100 million was to be raised through entry fees In some countries and pledges from sponsors and other contributors. "I am overwhelmed at what's happening," Geldof told tens of thousands of people In London's Hyde Park. "It's one thing to ask people to watch a pop concert of stars.

It's another thing to ask people to get out and run 10 kilometers." Geldof was alluding to the Live Aid concerts last July, which he also organized. Those concerts gathered rock groups who played for the African hungry In London and Philadelphia. third annual Great Monterey Squid Festival. Today, the president will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Un- known Soldier at Arlington Na-; tlonal Cemetery across the Polo- mac from Washington. Hundreds of people were ex-! pectcd at the Presidio of San Fran- Cisco yesterday for the dedication of a "living memorial" to Vietnam veterans.

"A lot of people saw Vietnam as a failure, but the real losers were the Vietnam veterans." said I Col. Jerry Autry, Protestant chap-lain at the post. Autry, 46, the most dedicated chaplain In the US Army, holds the Silver Star, Hron.c Star, two I Purple Hearts and other medals from service with the 101st Air- borne Division In Vietnam. tk'hlnd the monument are the US and military flags, with a se- mlclrclc of Italian cypress trees. "The cypresses were plunted so this will be a living monument," said Ardyss L.

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Rain drenched the ltullanapo-: lis Motor Speedway yesterday, and the 70th Indianapolis 500 was delayed a day. Vice President George Bush was to visit his vocation home on the Maine const and give a Memorial Day njxTch during ceremonies at Kennebunkport Square. Memorial Duy ofrirlnlly Is celebrated In most stales toduy, when thousands of local observances arc scheduled. In Monterey. vendors hawked squid pizza and squld-burgcrs to thousands or.tcnplc whose stomachs could handle the.