|
A Permanent Memorial
In several of our Iowa, counties, committees have
already been appointed to consider suitable memorials
for the soldier-heroes from the Hawkeye state. Dr. Frank
Crane, eminent eastern publicist, has suggested a
"Liberty Building," to be erected in each county seat
town in the United States, such building to serve as a
home for all community activities, and where battle-torn
flags and other trophies of the great war for democracy
may be preserved.
Another, -- and we think, -- a better suggestion is a
Memorial Drive -- a permanent roadway that, with proper
maintenance, will last as long as water runs and wood
grows. Along this drive or highway should be erected
ornamental light-posts, and on each post a shield of
Stars and Stripes, and super-imposed thereon, the name
of one of the county's soldier heroes.
In most of our county seat towns there are adequate
facilities for community meetings, and gradually we are
coming to the opinion that we should make more constant
and general use of our school houses. Laws already have
been passed looking to this forward step. There seems to
be no reason why we should not utilize our school houses
for community meetings -- and that a duplication of this
expenditure, even as a memorial, will be ill-advised.
The great buildings erected in Caesar's time have
crumbled into decay -- but the roads that Caesar built
helped carry to victory these boys of our present
American army, whose glory we would keep undimmed.
A memorial Drive would be of material as well as
sentimental value. It would not duplicate any present
facilities. It would be available to a greater number of
people.
A Liberty building might soon be overshadowed by the
erection nearby of some great business block. A memorial
Drive would have individuality, and could never be
dwarfed by the building of a longer drive somewhere
else.
A Liberty building might be destroyed by fire, and while
insurance protection would enable the erection of
another, its successor would not have built into it the
sentiment of the present hour. A memorial Drive, if
adequately and honestly built would deft the elements.
If properly maintained it would carry the traffic of
generations yet unborn.
By
all means, let us build memorials to our lads who were
the khaki in the great war for democracy -- but let us
coordinate sentiment, utility and progress. |
