Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-05-26
a LESSON IN PATRIOTISM.
American School ChIdren's Tribute to the
Maine Martyrs National Monument.


"For the perpetudtion Of our republican
institutions ace mast depend upon those oUho
come after as, the children. Let us make
certain, then, that they gro,r up as
patriots. George Washington.
1t is proposed by the people of the
United States to erect, with popular
subscription, a national memorial in
honor of those men who, it is believed,
met their awful death through Spanish
perfdY while on board the battleship
Maine, blown up in Havana harbor on
Feb. 10, 1898. To encourage such move
ment National Maine Monument COM
mittee has been selected composed of
thirtv-one prominent men, including
Hon. Levi P. Morton, chairman pro
tenn; George ]. Gould, treasurer; Gen.
Nelson A. Miles, commander U. S.
army; w. c. Whitney, former secretary
Of the navy; Rev. Sheldon Jackson, U.
S. Gent Agt. of Education for Alaska;
Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore; Chaun-
cey NJ. Depew; senators and congress
men from many states.
Desiring to instil into the minds of
the children of our land lessons in
patriotism, and to impress upon them
love of country, love of flag and the
blessings of liberty, these children have
been given an active, personal part to
play in connection with the building of
| this monument.
Underneath the monument will be
constructed a special vault in which it
is desired to place the names of all the
pupils of all the schools of the United
States. To carry out this idea, Thurs
day, May %, was fixed upon through
out our country and set apart as Maine
Day" for the purpose of receiving sig
natures of pupils. Neatly illustrated
covers, containing signature blanks,
were received by State Superintendent
J. Q. Emery in Wisconsin, and upon
his endorsement of the plan he mailed
them out to the county superintendent,
and they, in turn, directed them TO
|
charge. County Supt. R. A. Havenor
has interested himself in the work and
has sent circular letters and signature
blanks to the several teachers of Wood
county. Each school class Is to be en-
tered on a separate sheet with name Of
teacher at head. Each cover is in
tended to contain one entire school,
bound by ribbon. In this manner sig
natures of the scholars will be preserved
for many generations to come and the
books will be arranged in the vault by
states so that they will be accessible at
certain periods to the signers and their
descendants. The children are asked
to contribute to the monument fund
what they wish, but in no case more
than 10 cents each. If total sum given
is adequate, some part of the memorial,
probably base or pedestal, is to be con-
structed from children's contribution
alone and record thereof made in the
inscription.
Where consistent with regulations,
the teachers, in submitting blanks for
signatures, held some exercises of a
patriotic nature and explained to their
scholars why grateful nation unites to
pay tribnte to the memory of the sailors
and marines who were slain while in
the service of their country. Wood
county will doubtless give its full mite
today, and the name, age and residence
of all it's school children will be written
on parchment to be found intact an
hundred years hence.