New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-07-25
MEMORIAL HALL SHOULD BE
MONUMENT WORTH WHILE

The last Legislature of this State
passed an Act as prepared by Col
G.. w. Prichard granting a charter
to The Memorial Hall Association
of New Mexico to commemorate the
names of the soldiers, sailors and
marines OF this State who lost their
lives in the recent great war.
The plan proposed is the most
comprehensive of any yet suggest
ted and has awakened much public
interest. 1t has been thought that
the Memorial Hall and appurte-
nances should cost not less than two
hundred fifty thousand dollars. II
the purposes are carried out it will
be a monument not only TO perpe-
tuate the names of the soldiers,
sailors and marines who lost their
| lives fighting the Germans, but it
will be an edifice for the use of the
living as well 1t is proposed that
the great monument itself shall con-
tain several sections. The first Is
4 to be a large cylindrical foyer or
Court of Honor, where the names
and services OF the soldiers and
sailors will be engraved or stamped
on tablets Of bronze The next sec
ton will be devoted to the statues
of renowned heroes who lost their
lives in the war and in wide
panelled section arranged for the
purpose, the artist will have free
scope in painting great battle scenes
of the war
Suitable space will be given for the
placing of trophies of war and also
where the names of the heroes in
the Indian and other wars on New
Mexico soil will be perpetuated in
bronze or marble.
There will be a women's section
in which her part IN the war win
be shown and illustrated and which
will preserve an important chapter
in the wars history showing what
she has done for the success Of
our boys at the front.
In a section TO itself it is propos-
ed to install appropriate statues, tab
lets, sculptures, paintings, books.
papers and records Of both the Men
and Womens' Council Of Defense OF
this State and other war literature
A great Roll will be kept on which
will be written or embossed the
names OF living soldiers, sailors and
from New Mexico Also the names
of those who contribute to the con-
struction of the monument, will be
preserved in its archives.
Another section of the structure
will probably be a large dome
shaped cyclorama, several hundred
feet in circumference, upon the wall
Of which will be painted IN life sized
figures, battle scenes on the soil of
New Mexico, including important
battles with the Indians and the bat
ties of Glorieta and Valverde during
the Civil War
A great auditorium capable of seat
ing five thousand or more people
will constitute a part of this monu-
ment This auditorium will be for
the use OF the public and will be
perfect in design and acoustics The
ground upon which the monument
will stand will have careful consi-
deration. 1t will be spacious and
decoratively laid out and kept up.
The exterior OF the structure will be
in keeping with its interior arrange
mentS Figures OF the Indian, the
Spaniard and priest as they appear,
ed at the time OF the Spanish con-
quest, also figures OF the pioneer
of 40 and the soldier, sailor and
marine OF the recent war will most
probably adorn the building support
ed by a cornce or entablature that
surrounds it
After the Memorial Hall is cons
.tructed, according TO plans, and has
become a finished product in all Of
its details, both externally and in
ternally, it will be under the Act
granting the charter for its cons
truction. turned over TO the State
as n gift by the people 90 become
the property Of the State. and 70
remain so for all time 20 come II
the plans in view are carried out,
the structure will not only be one
of beauty and utility and keep alive
the cause that brought n into ex-
istence. but II viii reveal 20 future
generations the patriotism. the pub
lie spirit and intelligence of the
present inhabitants Of New NeNico.
The above are only tentative sug-
gestions Of what the monument
should be The Memorial Hal Assoc
citation must determine its character
and cost after a full consideration Of
the subject That the people Of the
State will gladly become contribu-
tors TO its success. there can be no
doubt We predict no one would
withhold his or her name from the
Honor Roll as a subscriber 10 carry
ont the purposes Of the Legislature
and the plans of those having he
work in charge.