Show A living M demori memori 7 ap sold A r ai j A A LU ff 4 49 J 4 by ELMO SCOTT WATSON HEY tell the story of 0 a philanthropist nho upon being asked to assist in a world war memorial project replied money aloney for cold stones never whether or not his attitude Is indefensible depends upon what form it was wag planned to have those cold stones take it if they were to be piled together and topped by one of those hideous cast iron statues which broke out like an ugly rash all oer the nation after the civil war ar perhaps lie he was quite right both morally and esthetically in withholding the support of his money rut but if it was proposed to erect a memorial of the kind that several states have built to honor the memory of their world war heroes since 1919 1019 then perhaps his refusal Is open pen to criticism A contributor to the columns colu mits 0 of the new york times commenting on the words of the philanthropist quoted above pointed out that in memory ry of the men who went through the scourge of devastating fire in france there now exists in one american state a magnificent hospital in another a school in another an at auditorium in another a shrine all of which owe their construction st to the spirit of dedication the desire to perpetuate the memory of the dead as aa the dead themselves would have it riot not in cold stones but in some tal ital and inspirational contribution trib ution to the living the shrine to which he be refers Is in indiana where the project for honoring tile memory of her dead heroes consists of a series of splendid buildings grouped around a massive temple which stands in the center of a plaza that Is spread down like a long strip of carpet flie fie blocks long and one block wide through the center of 0 her state capital indianapolis nine years ago in 1023 1025 tile the first unit of the he memorial structure was erected as the home for the national organization of tile the american legion the fact that the nationwide nation wide activities of this organization are centered here Is another reason why this memorial Is more than just a state project but instead Is one that has a special interest for thousands of legionnaires in every part of the country the american legion building situated near the northwest corner of the plaza blaza a ma magnificently gulfi plain structure finished in indiana time stone Is of greek architecture and of fireproof construction it contains tour four floors and a large sub aub and houses both the national and tate state organizations of the american legion and their auxiliaries space lias has been provided near the northeast corner of the plaza for a companion building to be erected at some future time in a sunken garden immediately to the east 0 of the legion building Is In dianas tribute to her war dead and known as n cenotaph square on a floor ot of red and dark green granite sits tile the cenotaph of black granite on the north and south tides bides of this tomb la Is the follain fol following loin inscription A tribute by indiana to the ball hallowed owed memory of the glorious dead who sered in the world war on the north hide of the cenotaph in the floor Is a bronze plaque plague with the following inscription in memoriam james bethel gresham of evansville indiana corporal co F lath division AE R killed at Beth elemont france nov 3 1917 first member of american expeditionary force to lose Us his life in action in the world war 1917 at the four corners tire are majestic columns also of black granite surmounted by eagles of gold the base Is surrounded by grass with fill pine shrubbery at the corners the elm trees at the corners of this sunken garden and privet hedges at the tops of 0 the terraces complete the plantings of this area above the garden to the north stands a graceful flag flae pole SG 80 feet in height from which 4 PRO P AT 1 general view of the indiana world war memorial shrine from the northwest 2 the altar to the tha flag in tho the memorial shrine 3 the statue pro batrla which stands on the main staircase at the south side of the memorial shrine 4 the memorial hall or shrine room with the altar to the flag in the center ao flies files the united states flog flag every day of the year looking to the south from the cenotaph the visitor to the memorial sees the mall a large expanse of blue grass with terraces on either side and on both sides of it are walks and grass plots lined with avenue trees and shrubbery continuing southward to the next nest block the visitor arrives at obelisk square an entire block paved with macadam and bordered with grass plots and trees at the four corners are pairs of large caliber captured german held field SUBS guns in the exact center of this square Is the obelisk rising to the height of feet near the base on each side are the bronzes of the sculptor henry hering representing the four fundamentals on which the hopes of a nation are founded law science religion and education in the construction of the indiana world war memorial shrine or main building was started the foundation for this mammoth structure begins about 20 feet below the street level and consists of reinforced concrete nod and steel girders to carry the enormous load of the walls of the large tower which rises to a height of feet above the street level the base Is approximately feet wide and feet long consisting cons isling of a basement and a ground level floor which are still in the hands of the finishing contractor the halls and corridors of the basement and first floor will provide the space for a world war museum in the center on the first floor will be an auditorium seating about GOO persons there will be two other rooms on this floor with a capacity of persons each for meetings of patriotic organizations about 40 feet above the street level Is the podium or porch which entirely surrounds the tower of the building at this level will be found the cornerstone which was laid by gen john i pershing on july 4 1927 between the five large windows in the tower on each of the four sides are six magnificent stone columns above which stand the six heroic figures sculptured in stone representing courage memory pence peace victory liberty and patriotism on the north facade above the four bronze entrance doors to the ground level floor Is the inscription taken from the law creating the indiana world war memorial which reads erected to commemorate the valor and sacrifice of members of the land son sea and air forces of the united states and all others who rendered faithful and loyal service at home and over overseas beas in the world war to inculcate a true understanding and appreciation of tile the privileges of american citizenship to inspire patriotism and respect for the law to the end that peace and good will may pr prevail evall justice be administered public order maintained and liberty perpetuated on a base of pink granite in the middle of the south stairway to the tha memorial shrine room koom stands the largest sculptural bronze casting ever made in america Tie rings pro batrla this statue Is 24 feet in height and its lt weight al to the e ler er dead 4 V LH Is given at approximately seven tons the purpose of memorial nail dill or the shrine room boorn Is 13 to inspire good citizenship in all those tho who lilt it this inspiration will come from the room itself its architectural treatment its sh shape ape and lighting which all form a magnificent setting for the american lag flag g hanging in the center of the room above which shines the crystal star of destiny beneath the ling hag Is placed the altar of consecration it Is also presumed that the room will extend a hand of fellowship and welcome to all nations of the world as ty typified pilled to in the inscriptions on the four sides of the altar around the inside perimeter of the room Is a marble wainscot about 17 feet high in this marble wainscot on the east and west sides are sli six niches three on each side which frame fraine the portraits of the leading soldiers of america france england belgium italy and serbia painted by walter brough above the marble wainscot around the entire perimeter of the room Is an allegorical sculptured frieze the subject on the north wall represents america joining the allies under the conditions of war var prevailing the head of war appearing over the world of turmoil the east and west sides are devoted to the portrayal of the great struggle the south side indicates the contrasting conditions realized by ultimate peace and the activities of mankind under these conditions the sculptor for tills this work was frank Jl the main architectural features of 0 the room are the 16 dark red columns of american marble surrounding the room the shafts of which are ara approximately 40 feet high the color of the marble itself being a symbol the columns stand unusually close together symbolizing the defense of the nation in their sturdy quality and the aspiration of the nation in their verticality the columns stand on bronze bases which in turn are seated on dark green greed american marble the capitals are richly decorated in gold and form a noble termination to the shafts between the corner pilasters pi lasters and columns adjacent to them are groups of flags of all the allied nations again echoing the international spirit of the room to in the four corners of the room are four silk banners of royal blue upon which are embroidered the american eagle from the official seat seal of the united states the banners are placed between the flags of the allies symbolically linking then them together the altar to the flag Is in no way a religious altar in any part of its design but rather an altar whore where homage can be paid to the lag flag and where here people can consecrate themselves to good citizenship and patriotism this Is intended to be world wide in scope the tour four sides of the altar baclit facing north dort south east and west the four marble eagles at the corner of tile the altar are the guardians of the shrine and the gold stars in the blue marble field above the eagles represent a united hand band of states the top of the shrine Is executed in brilliantly colored enamels em embracing tracing the american golden eagle the shield of the united states the wreath of memory the palms of victory and a broad gold ribbon upon which Is inscribed in blood red letters the pledge of allegiance to the flag on the four sides of the altar are ara appropriate inscriptions at each corner of the altar and situated on the raised plinth are four marble and gold tripods representing sentinels of light throwing their luster on the apotheosis of the whole design the american flag whose dimension la is about 17 by 80 90 feet above the flag Is the star of destiny a large crystal star symbolizing the guidance of the future welfare of the nation looking down from the north end of the plaza Is the james whitcomb riley niley library considered one of the finest examples of greek architecture in this country the south end of the plaza Is a beautiful square of old trees shrubbery flower beds and grass its central figure la Is the graceful do da pew memorial writer water fountain at the south side ida of this square stands the benjamin lson statue to in the southeast corner Is 13 being erected a statue of abraham lincoln the gift of henry clay long a veteran of the civil war at his death in 1001 1901 mr long left a fund to provide this statue with the provision that it be erected in this location in the near future a statue of woodrow wilson the tha world war president will be erected in the southwest sout best corner of this square at the south end stands the large federal building which Is to have extensive additions in the near future jt it Is hoped that before many years have elapsed the plaza will be surrounded by handsome structures such as the scottish rile bite cathedral situated on the west side C Q tr by western vaia |