The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-02-10
STARTSBUILDMG
VICTORY MEMORIAL
Associated Press Dispatch.

balcony will accommodate several
thousand more. There will be thirty
eight thousand square feet Of space
in the main floor, which will contain
number of smaller halls and recep-
ton rooms, a spacious stage and a
George Washington Museum, besides
the assembly hall.
Will Install Organ
Within the auditorium may be
national and international conyen-
tons, conferences and free public
concerts. Part of the funds now being
raised provide for the purchase of a
| fine organ, and an endowment to pay
musician of national reputation Is
| planned
Far above the mammoth assembly
hall will stretch an acoustical dome,
three times the diameter of st. Pet
ers' at Rome. The high vault,E cam
opy will be studded with blue and
gold service stars indicative of the
services rendered by over five million
Americans who fought in the World
War.
Besides the oval balcony, a large
banquet hall is provided in the sec.
ond floor, seating six hundred, and
suitable for dinners Of national lm-
portance. There also will be rooms
quarters oil military, patriotic socie
ties, and veterans associations. On
the third floor, fifty eight rooms are
designated for the use OF states
and territorial possessions. The
fourth floor is arranged for addition
al offices for the use OF various So
cieties whose objects are to promote
the welfare of the country or are of
educational influence.
1t is planned that one room OF the
building be devoted to the use Of
veterans OF the World War. 1t will
be endowed and provision will be
made for a museum and library of
World War history and pictures.
For erection of the building, ten
million dollars are sought, more than
a half million of that sum is already
on hand. For the endowment of the
Memorial, from ten to fifteen million
dollars is desired. making total or
twenty of twenty five million dollars.
But more than this amount will be
available IL the present subscription
plan proves successful.
The scheme for financing the un-
dertaking is believed 10 be unique,
each being asked to endow service
star for every SON and daughter VINO
served during the World War. The
rates to be assessed are A minimum
of five dollars for each blue service
star and a minimum OF one hundred
dollars for each gold star of sacrltce.
France has her Pantheon and Bri.
tain her Westminster, so now Amerl-
ca may have a. victory memorial, re-
vereing the Father Of the Country
and his ideals established in 1176,
and concentrating the valor OF the
sons of the country who preserved
them in 1917. General Pershing, NAM
ing the ed!fice "a temple of remem-
brance to those whose Valor made it
possible" expressed the hope that lit
would also be a monument to that
new era OF international relationship
and friendhness which alone will
guarantee lasting peace"
Stars In The Dome
More than five millions stars, to
be exact, 5,O16,Ss2 of which 12s,s7s
will be of gold and the others blue.
win stud the dome of the gigantic
assembly hall al the National victory
Memorial building be completed In
time for the inaugural ceremonies In
1925.
This dome VIII really be an Ameri-
can Service flag, bespangled with
stars in geographical groups; a gold
star for. everyone who died in the
country's service during the recent
war, and a blue one for each other
member of the Army, Navy and Ma
rine Corps who served.
That each star may be idenuhed
by initials or a name in full, and
guided by a grouing diagram, future
visitors will be able with the aid OF
a telescope on the floor below, to 10.
cate a particular star, are details or
the plans of Mrs. Henry p: pmock
President of the George washington
Memorial Association and the gud-
ing spirit whose indefatigalbe efforts
have -consummated this gigantic IN
dertaking.
The following lists compiled from
the latest official records OF the
Army, Navy and Marine Corps. snow
the following totals, not before reach
ed in estimated statistical compila-
tons of the World War:
Total men and women who served
in Army, Navy and Marine Corps o.
Total deaths from all causes N
World War in above services, 49,
s79.
no lost their lives in the world war: