Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-15

on fine arts. A model stands in tn,
headquarters of the memorial associa
ton. 1t shows a history, squar,
building, so broad as to appear very
low set. The material, like most pub
lie buildings in Washington, will b.
white stone, and the usual Greek eff.
feet of a colonnade Of pillars is uset
at the front and back.
The central feature of the building
is the large auditorium seating 1000
with suitable accommodations for ma
tional and international gatherings.
The lofty dome of this auditorium
is to be the specific memorial to the
soldiers and marines of the world war.
Each man who fell in the war is to
be represented by a gold star in the
dome, and all others by blue stars.
These 100000 stars are to be per-
sonal memorials because the initials of
the men they represent are to be on
them, and it is planned that by use of
a diagram and a field glass visitors to
the hall will be able to locate the
names of their own war heroes.
The dome of stars is expected to
prove of increasing interest with the
passing of time. In a speech at the
corner stone ceremony, Admiral
Coontz, chief of naval operations, re-
ferred to the dome of stars as the part
of the project that appealed to him
most.
Can you not imagine said the ad-
miral, "the children. the grandchildren
and the great-grandchildren of the
great war making Washington a mecca
to visit, TO look for their ancestors
star. / am a great believer In tradi-
ton, for that we are led to the same in
the present and the future.
Around the auditorium are to be a
great many rooms. all dedicated to pa
triotic and national uses. On the first
floor there will be smaller meeting
halls and two museums which will CON
tain collections of war trophies and
relics, documents, uniforms, guns and
souvenirs of famous men.
The second floor is to have a large
banquet hall where state banquets can
be held and distinguished statesmen
There will also be recep-
ton rooms and a long row of rooms
where patriotic societies will establish
headquarters. Such organ
izatiOns as the Colonial Danes. Sons
Veterans, and Daughters of 1912
are to make use of these rooms, and
SVtICtiCS iIdsC diIcdut set uSluP |
to furnish and maintain rooms |
here.
Above. on the third floor rooms
are to be reserved for each of the
states and territories, to be furnished
BY them and used for state societies
and other state purposes. The fourth
floor is arranged in more offices for
and national societies.
A Long Felt Need
The need for this type of public
buildings has long been apparent. Mem
,ers of the patriotic societies come to
Washington at times for conventions.
o promote special legislation. to con-
sult government records. and to use
he fine genealogical collection at the
library of congress. But most of the
have no headquarters. no
special place where members can get
or hold meetings. Worst
If all. Washington lacks a suitable
for meetings Of large, i'm
bodies.
1t was because a patriotic building"
vas needed and because it seemed to
ulfili. in spirit at least. the almost
orgotten desire expressed in Washing
on's will, that the George Washington
memorial took this form.
The first president had a long cher
shed dream of a national university to
high ideals in the youth of
he land. In his last message to rom
ress he urged that body to promote
Institutions for the dissemination Of
In his will he said he re-
that American students should
o TO other countries to receive higher
and foreign ideas at an i'm