Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-03-13

Reminder Of Sacrifices Made by Sol
diers and SaiIors-Many Commun-
ties Favor the Idea.
! Soldiers memorials in the form of
community buildings, dedicated to
civic and social uses and, wherever
possible, built with bonds of the fifth
Liberty loan, are urged by the bureau
of education, department of the inte-
rior, in circular sent to every school
community in the United States.
A number of communities have al
ready concluded that Il building, In
constant use as reminder of the
sacrifice made by the soldiers and
sailors of the great war, is more ap-
proprate and enduring than the con
vontiona graveyard monument.
"There is II growing conviction says
DR.. Henry f.. Jackson, author of the
bureaus circular, that the conven-
tional stone shaft, placed in grave
yard among the dead, is not Il fitting
memorial to those who died for free
dom. The suggestion, made both in
France and America, that these me-
MORALS take the form of community
buildings, dedicated to civic md social
uses. is obviously wise and ought to
meet universal approval. On the walls
Of such building should hang II
bronze tablet containing the names of
nn,pbpnnitx'S ia ljhnptU
The Roll Of Honor.
"ThiS type of memorial will guar
antee that no boy who gave his life
for Justice and freedom will be forgot
ten. The number of American lives
lost in this war Is very small in com
pariSon to those lost in the Civil war.
If a community lost only three or four.
it might not think it worth while to
build monument But II community
building is needed entirely apart from
its memorial purpose. The chief ad
vantage of this type of memorial. how.
ever. Is not that IT is economical. but
that II keeps green an inspiring mem
Dry, and it seeks to put into operation,
through its civic and social activities.
the ideals for which our boys fought
In France.
Funds for this purpose could be
raised more easily if they were raised
in the form of Liberty bonds during
the fifth loan, which is To come in the
spring. The bonds can be used rs
money when the time comes to build.
Thus n community can serve itself
while, at the same time. it is rendering
national service. BY this method
more money for the government could
be raised than by any other. Not only
would many individuals gladly contrib
ute an extra bond or two for the bpne
fit Of their local community. but many
who are unable to do this could pool
their small gifts and contribute to Il
bond. Likewise, entertainments and
social activities can be utilized To raise
money for the same purpose. Oppor-
tunity should be given for rs many as
possible to have a part in the enter
prise. For men to contribute outright
Il few Liberty bonds to II local com
munity cause will help to dispel the
delusion that man is doing anything
especially generous when he puts his
money into an investment which offers
the best security in the world and Il
fair rate of interest. To couple the
fifth loan with free gifts ana soldiers
memorials will make it in Il real sense
A tiDtap, 4 u-ill
than this. 1t will be a reconstruction
loan.
Should Be the School.
"Wherever possible this community
II cmorial building ought to be the pub
lie sChoolhOuSc, in order to prevent
needless waste through duplication.
1t is the logical community center II
Is nonpartiSan, nonSoctarian ana non
exclusive. 1t is owned and operated
by all the people and therefore fur
niShes platform on which all can
meet on terms of self-respect. The
SchoOlhOuSe could be remoiclcd or en-
larecd or replaced by new one. 1t is
the natural capitol and clubhouse of
every community. In rural districts
small schools should of course be con.
SuIidated in order to eliminate a waste
and secure a community large enough
to support the kind of building here
proposed.
"The clubhouse ought to be used
for this purpose wherever possible.
IF in any place the school officials are
unprogressive and unawake to their
opportunity, then an independent
building ought to be erected Institu.
tons are made for the people, not the
people for institutions. Let US use
whatever means are available for our
puSpOsc. But there is no need for any
community to submit to a backward.
looking board of school directors. The
schools belong to the people and it is
their privilege to compel school Off,
Gals to be their public servants and
execute their WILL"
In his fOrew0rd to the bureaus cir
cular, Commissioner ClaXton states
that the bureau of education will glad
ly join with other agencies in stimu.
lating the erection of memorials of this
kind to American soldiers and sailors.
: e. Thornberry, of Sebree, KY, re-