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Show PAGE 18 THE ZEPHYRNOVEMBER 89 . 1 The Unity Monument the Christensens rise and fall of A.L. 1941 tribute by Jim Stiles 1940, all of Europe was at war. The Nazi Blitzkrieg had overwhelmed France in less than a month. The swastika of Hitlers Third Reich flew over the capitals of Belgium, Holland, now Britains Royal Air Force desperately fought Norway & Sweden Goerrings Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. England was In flames and barely surviving. Its Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, turned westward to the United States and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt and Churchill both knew that the fate of the entire planet literally depended on the survival of Great Britain; FDR was determined to do everything he could to Insure that tiny Islands survival. But at the same time Roosevelts second term was quickly drawing to a close. No president had ever run for a third term. It was not illegal to do so, but It was a tradition steeped in history. George Washington himself had refused to run for a third term and Roosevelt was Inclined to do the same. Yet he feared a growing Isolationist movement throughout the country that encouraged the Unjted States to stay out of any "foreign war. An isolationist president could be disastrous for Britain and eventually for America itself. Roosevelt threw hjs hat In the the summer of In "The Unity Movement, located just off the oiled highway a mile south of Cane Springs on the highway Is under construction and will be completed this year. Albert Christensen Is the sculptor and the project Is being prosecuted under the direction of Ben Moab-Montlce- . H. llo . Jackson. The monument itself consists of the faces and busts of President ring. The Republicans were determined to stop FQR. Thomas Dewey of New York and Senator Robert Taft of Ohio were expected , tt be the front runners, but the convention in Philadelphia wanted a winner, and on the sixth ballot, it gave the nomination to Wendell L Wilkie. Wilkie was not a backroom politician; he wasnt much of a politician at all, in fact. He ran a clean and decent campaign, and actually supported some of. FDRs efforts to .provide support and arms to England. Later, Roosevelt was said to have remarked that had he known earlier the calibre of the candidate that opposed him, he would have felt confident leaving the presidency and returning to Hyde Park. The country would be safe, FDR felt, In the hands of Wendell Wilkie. But the country itself was not so sure. To a nation just emerging from Its worst economic depression and now facing war, Franklin On election night, Roosevelt had become "the indispensible man. America cast aside tradition Roosevelt was elected to a third term. Wilkie called him "the champ. : After the election Roosevelt continued to seek ways to assist the besieged Britains. On December 16, he Introduced a bill to the In exchange for H.B. 1776. FDR called It lend-lea- se. Congress arms, tanks, warplanes, and ships, Britain gave America long-ter- m leases on British held Islands in the Atlantic. The bill was controversial and faced stiff opposition, but recently defeated candidate Wendell Wilkie testified in its behalf. lt is the history of democracy, he said, "that under such dire circumstances, extraordinary powers must be es Wilkies support assured granted to the elected executive. passage, and later FDR sent him to England to analyze the benefits. lend-leas- Two thousand miles from Washington, A.L Christensen of Moab, took notice of both men. Christensen, best known for creating Hole n the Rock south of Moab, felt that Roosevelt and Wilkie represented the best America had to offer. As a sculptor he proposed to pay tribute to the two 1940 candidates for President In the April 17, 1940 Issue of the Moab a front page story carried details of his Tlmes-lndepend- ent project Hole n the Rock, late 40s. Photo by Herb Ringer. Roosevelt and Wendell r L Wilkie,' surmounted following Inscription also appears: 1 eagje, the' by the American f UNITY : ' With God We Stand All For 'One One For All : . "The monument is being erected according to the sponsors, in honor of those two leaders of America for the example they are setting for our people in the way of unity and the preservation of American rights and liberties. Those behind the project feel that it Is right and fitting that the American people should show their appreciation to the two great political leaders while they are alive for the effort they are making to safeguard American democracy. Christensens vision for- the monument was, well monumental. According to the sculptors plans, "more than 100,000 people could easily gather in a natural amphitheater below and In front of it Thousands of tons of rock and debris recently have been removed from the face of the cliff in squaring it up for the monument He first went to work on a model. The eagles wing spread would be over seven feet - CANTONLANDS LLAMAS DAILY RATES $50 per day per person 2 person min. MULTIPLE DAY TREKS $100 per day per person 4 person min. , , Do you want a truly unique dining experience? Join us and our beautiful llamas for a hike and dinner in the canyons around Castle Rock. mm Guided Pack Trips DailyHikes Multiple Day Treks Drop Gimps Custom Adventures (801)259-825- 2 (801) 259-57- 39 CVSR1911 Moab, Utah 84532 , |