HomeMy WebLinkAboutVeterans Memorial Library Committee charge, 1949.pdf ,1�� � TOWN OF LEXINGTON
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MASSACHUSETTS
JAMES J. CARROLL
TOWN TREASURER
AND
TOWN CLERK
May 25 , 1949
George W Emery, Chairman
Board of Selectmen
Lexington, Massachusetts
Dear George ,
At the adjourned Town Meeting held
March 21, 1949, the following vote was passed
VOTED That the Moderator appoint a Committee of
not less than seven (7 ) to develop the de-
tails and cost of the proposed Veterans
Memorial Library, as recommended by the War
Memorial Committee in its report dated
March 21 , 1949 in co-operation with the High
School Building Committee , and report to a
future Town Meeting "
As of this date I have received from the
Moderator, the appointment of the following members to
comprise the Committee;
Clyde A. Booker
Lyon Carter
Archibald R Giroux
Jennie A. Grindle
Steele Lindsay I
George V Morse
A Edward Rowse
Robert H Watt
William E Phillips
Very truly yours ,
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James J Carroll , Toun Clerk
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MASSACHUSETTS
JAMES J. CARROLL
TOWN TREASURER
AND
TOWN CLERK April 20 , 1949
George W Emery, Chairman
Board of Selectmen
Lexington, Massachusetts
Dear George ,
The following is a report of the Lexington War Mem-
orial Committee , for your information
REPORT OF THE LEXINGTON WAR MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
To the Town Meeting Members
In accordance with the vote of the Town Meeting of April 1 ,
1946, at which time the Moderator was instructed to appoint a
committee to study the matter of a War Memorial and report to a
future Town Meeting, your committee hereby submits the following
report
From the outset the Committee unanimously agreed that its
study should be directed toward finding a useful living memorial
that would especially benefit the youth of succeeding generations
For several months thereafter, the committee , individually and
collectively, combed every source of information for ideas suited
to this objective This search included contacts with similar
committees and projects throughout New England, extensive sifting
of suggestions from all sources, and an editorial by Mr Alan
Adams in the Minute Man inviting everyone locally to propose any
possible ideas Our aim in this search was to be all inclusive ,
despite our agreed objective of a memorial that would benefit
present and future youth of our Town
When this committee was satisfied that all possible projects
had been presented , prolonged discussion of the merits of each of
them led to a preliminary listing of the ten best ideas in each
member' s judgment This revealed that the committee considered
twenty projects suitable for further discussion Again we weighed 1
each of them, both as to its value to the community and as a
fitting War Memorial Once again we took a vote , selecting the
ten best of the twenty projects under consideration and rating
them one , two, three and up to ten
The result was astonishing By an overwhelming margin three
projects stood out from all the rest and the one that we shall
recommend in this report rank's considerably above the other two
In fact , the practical unanimity, without our having sought it , so
surprised us that we considered some form of Town plebescite , lest
we be guilty of coming to an agreement too easily and readily
,
fig ,
TOWN OF LEXINGTON
MASSACHUSETTS
lattioso-
JAMES J. CARROLL
TOWN TREASURER
AND
TOWN CLERK
Mr George W Emery, Chairman April 20, 1949
Report of the Lexington War Memorial Committee - Page 2 - (cont )
Various means of sounding the town' s opinion were discussed at
three meetings Each presented such difficulties that it was
finally decided , instead , to publicize the ten projects through
the columns of the Minute Man Accordingly such a report to the
citizens was made in a story published last summer Suggestions
to the Committee were invited and the Committee followed this up
with discussion with anyone who was willing to listen
When deliberations were resumed after the summer , the
committee had crystallized its thoughts , after discussing them
with the townspeople , to the point where it was convinced that
its first choice of a project was outstanding and that it should
be so recommended
Accordingly, the Committee recommends
( 1) That, when the new high school is constructed , the
library therein be distinctively decorated , furnished and equipped ;
that it be dedicated as a living memorial to the war dead of this
Town, and designated as the VETERAN'S MEMORIAL LIBRARY
(2) That the Moderator appoint a committee of not less than
seven to develop the details and cost of this Memorial Library in
co-operation with the High School Building Committee , and report to
a future Town Meeting
(3) That the Town amend its by-laws so that annually a
committee of three shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen to
serve as the Veteran' s Memorial Library Committee , for the purpose I
of perpetuating the usefulness of this living memorial
Respectfully submitted ,
LEXINGTON WAR MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
Clyde A Booker George V Morse
Lyon Carter A Edward Rowse
Archibald R Giroux Robert H Watt
Jennie A Grindle William E Phillips
Steele Lindsay Chairman
Lexington, Mass
March 21 , 1949
Voted to be accepted and placed on file 8 06 P M
JJC m TOWN CL . 1