Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-11-27
PROF. OLSON FOR
A MEMORIAL
Well Known Professor at Luther
College Writes Us Letter With
suggestions for Memorial
for Soldiers and
Sailors
SUGGESTS A LIBRARY
BUILDING BE BUILT
Gives His Views on Why Library
Building Would be Fine and
Fitting Memorial to the
3 Boys
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
Mayor Hook has suggested that a
memorial library be erected in menu
ory of the soldiers and sailors from
Winneshiek county who were induct-
ed into the service of our country in
the great war which has just come to
a close. About eight hundred of the
very flower of young manhood of
our county were summoned to this
service, and the suggestion that
fitting memorial be erected in their
memory will no doubt meet with
the hearty approval OF the people of
the county. Such memorial structures
will very probably be erected
throughout the country; and the peo-
| pie of Winneshiek county, who have
shown a most commendable zeal IN
supporting our country in the great
task it has performed in this memo
rable epoch of the worlds history,
will undoubtedly wish that the SER
vices rendered by our soldiers and
sailor boys, and in fact, the services
rendered by the people of the county
as a whole, shall be commorated II
some enduring form. In such a
building as the one suggested, photo
graphs, paintings, memorial tablets,
brief biographies, and other records
of the men in whose honor it is
4 erected could be placed on exhibition
in attractive form, where they would
be accessible to the public at all
| times. Records could also be kept
of all other patriotic activities of the
county during the eventful period OF
our participation in the war; For
instance, the names of all Red Cross
Eofficers and members OF Red Cross
units throughout the county, to-
Igether with what the Winneshiek
County Chapter of the Red Cross has
accomplished could be placed Oh
record and be preserved The history
of the various Liberty Loan cam
paigns, together with the names Of
and the purchasers Of Liberty Bonds,
could also be written and preserved
for future reference. In short, every
patriotic activity carried on in the
county in support OF the government
during the war could be properly
recorded and preserved. Such a
Ibuilding would be fitting deposit
tory for the many beautiful service
flags now to be found throughout the
county, in addition to war relics OF
J all kinds which will naturally ac-
cumulate in, the course of time and
which will first be available for those
who are in position to receive them
: and preserve them. Even collection
Of the many beautiful posters dis
|, played throughout the war would be
very interesting and would increase
in interest as time passes on.
Such building as the one pro,
posed should preferably be a library
! building. In the library might be as
: sembled and preserved a collection
OF government publications. issued
!, ,ldrring the war together with a good
collection of books to which the wa
has given rise and TO which 1t viii
continue to give rise for years tf
lcome. Within the walls of good
library is contained record OF whal
, 1.-THE human race has accomplished In
/ Thought and deed. 1t receives anc
| preserves a record of the intellectual
activity and progress Of our time
|, 1t is one of the chief moarS Of eda'
Ication and enlightenment. 1t is one
of the bulwarks of human liberty
Liberty seeks the light and fiourishe'
/, in the light OF knowledge and in
Itelligence. What memorial to oul
lyoung men who have offered them
selves in the cause of humanity anS
liberty would be more appropriate
than memorial library?
In has been suggested that such ;
! library should be built with funds
: donated in the form OF Lipert!
: Bonds, and that the library shoult
be called The Winneshiek Count,
Liberty Memorial Library Both sug
! gestions are very good, and no doub
many other good suggestions Will D.
I. made as discussion Of the matter pro
: crosses. The matter is one that de
$ serves serious consideration, In tn
= great war for liberty and humanit
in which wo have been engaged on