The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1919-11-07

the times in voting s250,000 for the
construction of memorial building
IN honor of soldiers of all wars is in
icated by recent article appearing
in The New York Times in which it
was pointed out that the present-day
spirit in America leans more than ev.
er before towards beautifying the
country, especially by the erection of
memorials.
With the proposition to put up
membribl building in Knox county
now reality through action of voters
last Tuesday, this article from The
Times, herewith printed in full, takes
on unusual significance and interest
When Harold S. Buttenheim, editor
of The American City, conceived the
idea of tho National Community Mem
oriai building movement as war
memorial, it is possible that he did
not realize how big thing it really
was.
Referred to at first as Liberty build,
ings or Victory buildings, they were
recommended as an expression of pub
lie feeling, vastly superior to any
mere monument in stone or bronze
living memorials, that could be vital.
ized by service.
The idea sprang into instant popu-
larity and was taken up IN the most
unnynpctad mo rt arc la ,,o, ,o,,,r =, 4
small towns-from Boston's magnf-
cent plans for a building approaching
the monumental classic, to Hockan.
um, Conn, where $4,000 was raised
by popular subscription-the popula.
tion in question numbering just about
two hundred and fifty!
Up to the present time more than
800 communities have definitely de.
cided upon some form of memorial
building.
Vastly diversified are the commun.
lty buildings, ranging in such wide
fields as are covered by hospitals, II.
braries, school buildings, churches,
clubhouses, theatres. One hundred
and fifty take the form of what is con.
sidered typical community houses,
which provide for the whole range of
civic, social, and recreational activi.
ties for the average town of the small.
er sort.
or great interest at this time are
the American Legion buildings. They
viii work with their own funds, form
their own committees, and be in ev.
cry way sponsors for the building,
which, when completed, will then be
an American Legion Post. This Is not
looked upon as the most ideal form OF
community memorial building, as II
VIII cater almost exclusively to the
eX-service men and possibly not be az
largely useful in a general sense as IL
might be, 1t is said. In Brooklyn a
whole chain of these is planned
The victory memorial building is
essentially designed to perpetuate the
ideals, the sarvice-the spirit thai
made possible the winning of the wal
the conception of the communit,
memorial is "the home of service"
To Represent All the People
The aim is to have the local com
mittee represent every element of thu
population, just as 1t Is desired tha
every element of the community shal
make use OF the memorial buildln.
when II Is completed.
In many OF the smaller communitie.
: the people themselves have voiced the
\ general feeling OF regret ut the pros
. pect OF losing the spirit of united ser
vice which sprang up during the war
That Mrs O'Grady and the colonel.
lady are sisters under the skin wa.
discovered some years ago In poetry
and, with their sons In service, tn,
fact that that poem voiced was reu,.
covered all over again in many ,
small community by the local edition
Z OF both the sisters mentioned. Ais,
In these communities there is a feel
ing or loss. 10 is found more Difficult
w ""s'' hoN INC llIlle t0uI 10 ID,
apparently made for special war &C
q uvities. and II is found that this tim,
/. can be very previously invested II
service for the community.
In other words, the communit,
wants to get together" And tho com
, munity house gives them the oppor
tunity and the facilities for doing this
In some places II IL reminiscent of th,
old "meetin house" spirit, and tn,
community committee has decided OF
< church for the form the memora
building viii take. In others librar,
building has long been desired, and
now. by combination of activities
the opportunity is given to fulfil tn,
Wish. The war proved In many place.
how human and community-spirlted
library could be- The "socialized II
brary' in the new memorial buildn,
viii, IL Is considered, Justify It's being
In one town in the middle west the,
alfpnny nj work IN thai, Ia