the spanish-american war memorial - mlive.commedia.mlive.com/grpress/news_impact/other/hiker...

sculpture as a piece of classic

art, I would suggest that as a community, we have forgotten the significance it represents. This monument does not

belong to one group over any other. It was presented to the people of the City of Grand Rapids to serve as a perma-

nent reminder of the service and sacrifice of those men and women of our community that served in the Spanish-American War, the Philippine

Insurrection, and the China Relief Expedition. This booklet provides a

review of the history of Grand Rapids’ in the Spanish-American War. Also included in this publication are numer-ous compelling reasons as to

why we should move our Hiker to a more prominent place in our community. These reasons are based solely on historical

documents and the words of the soldiers who fought in the war. Historically, the people of

the City of Grand Rapids and Kent County once demonstrat-ed a true respect and appre-ciation for the soldier in the

Spanish-American War. The time has come for us to return the Spanish-American War memorial to its proper

place in our community and in our hearts and minds. We owe them that.

Grand Rapids has long

been known for its public art. Tourists often visit Alexander Calder’s La Grande Vitesse while local residents see imag-es of the piece everywhere

throughout the community as part of the City’s logo. Meijer Gardens provides a world class destination for those that

appreciate outdoor sculptures and more. The annual Festival of the Arts and ArtPrize are classic

examples of how Grand Rap-ids and its citizens demon-strate their pride and appre-ciation for the artistic talents

we have in our community and beyond. Although proper funding for our parks has historically

been a challenge, thanks to the efforts of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and other engaged partners, interest in

our public parks and green space is on the rise. The cur-rent effort to rehabilitate our two memorial parks, Monu-ment Park and Veterans Me-

morial Park is something that is long overdue and a worthy project as reflected in the diversity of the stakeholders

assembled. However, in spite of the preceding success stories, his-tory reminds us that public

interest fades over time and the meaning or reason for something's existence becomes forgotten or even lost.

One such item was Grand

Rapids’ first public sculpture, the Kent County Civil War monument, dedicated in 1885 to a throng of 30,000 people.

And yet, by 2000, there were no champions for a mon-ument of firsts (first to include a fountain and first to recog-

nize the role of women), as it stood in disrepair; neglected and ignored. A small group of citizens successfully com-pleted full restoration and in

addition, reacquainted the community with its historic sig-nificance and reason for exist-ence.

Another sculpture, the Spanish-American War statue called “The Hiker,” once dedicated in

a very well-known public park with a large crowd in attend-ance, now stands nearly for-gotten in an obscure park, partially hidden by trees and

shrubs and in need of restora-tion. While some may see the

The seal of the

Spanish-American War

A Place of Prominence

The Spanish-American War Memorial

F O S T E R P A R K , G R A N D R A P I D S , M I C H I G A N

A T R I BU T E TO

T H OS E F RO M

K EN T COU N T Y

T H A T SE RV E D IN

T H E :

Spanish-

American War

1898-1899

Philippine

Insurrection 1898-1902

The China Relief Expedition 1900

P R E P A R E D B Y :

B R U C E B .

B U T G E R E I T

1 6 9 1 S U M M E R F I E L D

G R A N D R A P I D S , M I 4 9 5 0 8

M E M O R I A L S

O F F I C E R , D E P A R T M E N T O F

M I C H I G A N ,

S O N S O F U N I O N

V E T E R A N S O F T H E

C I V I L W A R

E X E C U T I V E D I R .

H I S T O R Y

R E M E M B E R E D , I N C .

P A G E 2

“...a splendid

little war.”

- Future

Secretary of

State

John Hay

U.S.S. Maine

Some history

The Spanish-American War of 1898 ended Spain's

colonial empire in the West-ern Hemisphere and secured

the position of the United States as a Pacific power. U.S. victory in the war pro-

duced a peace treaty that compelled the Spanish to

relinquish claims on Cuba, and to cede sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the

Philippines to the United States. The United States

also annexed the independ-ent state of Hawaii during the conflict. Thus, the war

enabled the United States to establish its predominance in

the Caribbean region and to pursue its strategic and eco-nomic interests in Asia.

The war that erupted in

1898 between the United States and Spain was pre-

ceded by three years of fighting by Cuban revolution-aries to gain independence

from Spanish colonial rule. From 1895-1898, the violent

conflict in Cuba captured the attention of Americans be-cause of the economic and

political instability that it produced in a region within

such close geographical proximity to the United States. The long-held U.S.

interest in ridding the West-ern Hemisphere of European

colonial powers and Ameri-can public outrage over bru-tal Spanish tactics created

much sympathy for the Cu-ban revolutionaries. By early 1898, tensions between the

United States and Spain had been mounting for months.

After the U.S. battleship Maine exploded and sank in Havana harbor under myste-

rious circumstances on Febru-ary 15, 1898, U.S. military

intervention in Cuba became likely.

On April 11, 1898, Presi-dent William McKinley asked

Congress for authorization to end the fighting in Cuba between the rebels and

Spanish forces, and to estab-lish a "stable government"

that would "maintain order" and ensure the "peace and tranquility and the security"

of Cuban and U.S. citizens on the island. On April 20, the

U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution that acknowledged Cuban independence, de-

manded that the Spanish government give up control

of the island, foreswore any intention on the part of the United States to annex Cuba,

and authorized McKinley to use whatever military

measures he deemed neces-sary to guarantee Cuba's

independence. The Spanish government

rejected the U.S. ultimatum and immediately severed

diplomatic relations with the United States. McKinley re-sponded by implementing a

naval blockade of Cuba on April 22 and issued a call for

125,000 [GR Herald report-ed 100,000] military volun-teers the following day. That

same day, Spain declared war on the United States,

and the U.S. Congress voted to go to war against Spain on April 25.

The future Secretary of State John Hay described the ensuing conflict as a

"splendid little war." The first battle was fought on May 1,

in Manila Bay, where Com-modore George Dewey's Asiatic Squadron defeated

the Spanish naval force de-fending the Philippines. On

June 10, U.S. troops landed at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and additional forces landed

near the harbor city of Santi-ago on June 22 and 24.

After isolating and defeating the Spanish army garrisons in Cuba, the U.S. Navy de-

stroyed the Spanish Caribbe-an squadron on July 3 as it

attempted to escape the U.S. naval blockade of Santiago.

On July 26, at the behest of the Spanish government,

the French ambassador in Washington, Jules Cambon, approached the McKinley

Administration to discuss peace terms, and a cease-

fire was signed on August 12. The war officially ended four months later, when the

U.S. and Spanish govern-ments signed the Treaty of

Paris on December 10, 1898. Apart from guaran-

teeing the independence of Cuba, the treaty also forced Spain to cede Guam and

Puerto Rico to the United States. Spain also agreed to

sell the Philippines to the United States for the sum of $20 million. The U.S. Senate

ratified the treaty on Febru-ary 6, 1899, by a margin of

only one vote. (The website below provides

more on the Philippine Insur-rection and the China Relief

Exhibition.)

T H E S P A N I S H - A M E R I C A N

John Hay

(also served as

secretary for

President

Abraham

Lincoln)

http://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/Spanish_american_war

P A G E 3

Local headlines

“War Against Spain;” Grand Rapids Herald; Date: 04-26-1898; Issue: 4871; Page: [1]; NewsBank

“Mayoral Proclamation;” Grand Rapids Herald; Date: 04-24-1898; Issue: 4869; Page: [3]; NewsBank

“On To Cuba;” Grand Rapids Herald; Date: 04-26-1898; Issue: 4871; Page: [1]; NewsBank

National headlines

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1898-04-26/ed-1/seq-1/



Kent County answers the call P A G E 4

The boys from Grand Rapids were quick to answer the call for troops by President McKinley. In fact, so many young men enlisted to serve that men were turned away. The units received their marching

orders on Saturday, April 23, 1898 and on Tuesday, April 26, the men marched through the streets of Grand Rapids to board the train for Island Lake in Livingston County and then to the front.

The Grand Rapids Herald wrote,

GOODBYE, BOYS, HURRAH! Farewell, and if Forever,

Still Forever, Fare Thee Well! Today the grim realities of war will come very close to many Grand Rapids families. It will come very close to many whose regard for those who leave for the front is very dear. To all there will come a feeling of solemnity and of anx-ious thought concerning those who go away from us this April morn-ing. They go with the good will and Godspeed…

“Rush of Recruits”; The Evening Press ;Date: 04-24-1898; Page: [3]; NewsBank

A patriotic and supportive community

GRPL Collection 54 Box 21 Folder 3 GRPL Collection 54 Box 44 Folder 6 SpanAm 1898

Over 475 men

served from Kent

County. In

Michigan, ten men

volunteered for

every one that

could be accepted.

GRPL Collection 54 Box 44 Folder 6 SpanAm 1898 GRPL Collection 54 Box 21 Folder 3 SpanAm 1898

GRPL Collection 54 Box 44 Folder 6 SpanAm 1898

GRPL Collection 54 Box 21 Folder 3 SpanAm 1898 GRPL Collection 54 Box 44 Folder 6 SpanAm 1898

Leaving Union Depot Leaving Union Depot

Leaving Union Depot Marching Down Canal Street

Rally in Campau Square - Note people on roof tops and the utility poles. The story header read in the

Evening Press on 4.26.1898 -

WITH HEADS BARED Veterans Watched the Troops

Board Their Train

ANOTHER BIG CROWD

Saw Departure from the Union Depot

Mothers Smiled Through Tears and Sisters and Sweethearts Wept Their Pretty Eyes Out

In Ionia St; at the depot, the es-cort opened ranks, and the heads of the old veterans, members of the veterans corps, Sons of Veter-

ans and the Elks were bared as the troops passed through their lines.

The parade was led by the

Grand Army of the Republic. Fathers to many of the soldiers.

P A G E 6

Franklin was a member of

the Perry Camp No. 9, Sons of Veterans and one-time Com-mander of the Department of Michigan, Sons of Veterans.

When it was obvious that America would go to war with Spain, Franklin personally raised two companies of troops made

up entirely of sons of Civil War veterans (by blood) and mem-bers of the Sons of Veterans (by association). These units were Co. L, 33rd Michigan Infantry

As it was in 1861, when their

fathers answered President Lin-coln’s call for troops to help pre-serve the Union, so too did the sons of veterans of the Civil War answer the call when their

nation needed them in 1898. Franklin D. Eddy, prominent Grand Rapids business man and

a two-term Clerk of Kent Coun-ty, was the son of William Eddy, a soldier in the 50th NY Engi-neers during the Civil War.

and Co. B, 35th Michigan Infan-

try. Grand Rapids was well-represented by men with rank from officer to private. Although the 35th Michigan

never left the United States, the 33rd saw heavy action in Cuba. As did their fathers in the

Civil War, more men would die from disease than from battle wounds.

sponsored Camps of the SV. In

1925, the SV name was changed to Sons of Union Veter-ans of the Civil War (SUVCW), under which its federal charter was issued in 1954. The SUVCW

is legally recognized as the heir to, and representative of, the G.A.R.

From its inception until after WW I, the Sons of Union Veter-ans served as a national guard unit for the U.S. military.

Today in Grand Rapids, the General John A. Logan Camp No. 1, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War proudly keeps

green the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic and honors

all those who have served in our

nation’s military. We have been actively in-volved in patriotic education programs as well as historic

preservation and restoration projects in Grand Rapids, the State of Michigan and other states.

In 1881, the Grand

Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) formed the Sons of Veterans of the Unit-ed States of America (SV) to carry on its tra-

ditions and memory long after the G.A.R. had ceased to exist. Membership was open to any man who could prove ancestry

to a member of the G.A.R. or to a veteran eligible for member-ship in the G.A.R. In later years, men who did not have the ances-try to qualify for hereditary

membership, but who demon-strated a genuine interest in the Civil War and could subscribe to the purpose and objectives of

the SUVCW, were admitted as Associates. Many G.A.R. Posts

Sons of Veterans (Association)

Sons of veterans (by blood)

Gen. John A. Logan

Originator of

Memorial Day

“Noble

sons of

patriotic

sires.” Ernest B. Fisher,

Historian 1918

Other organizations enthusiastic that they both

enlisted. Five men from the Grand Rapids Medical College announced their

enlistment. Five nurses from the United Benevolent Asso-

Those that answered

the call for troops included forty members of the Elks Lodge No. 48. The Y.M.C.A. saw a number of its members enlist. They

also sent instructors to min-ister to the soldiers. Roy R. Gillson and

James Mackay, two mem-bers of the [G.R.] Herald staff went to the armory to get reports and were so

“Elks” The Evening Press ; Date: 04-25-1898; Page: [1]; NewsBank

ciation applied to serve

as nurses. The Sophie de Marsac Campau Chapter of the DAR made bandages.

Fountain Street Church held an “Army Day” pro-gram with the Y.M.C.A.

P A G E 7

broke out.

...At the time of his enlistment he weighed 160 pounds and was in prime physical condition, never having a sick day in his life, and

was as strong as the strongest. ...W.G. Herpolsheimer said: “I cannot say how grieved and

shocked I am...We have several of our young men in that regi-ment, and we have assured them all that they could have their places back when they returned. I

am sorry that Harry cannot come back to take his place again.” The remains will be brought

home for burial. The September 14, 1898 issue of the Herald ran this story -

WRAPPED UP IN THE FLAG The Body of Private George Proper Arrived Last Evening

Wrapped in the folds of the flag he died for, the body of Private George Proper of Com-pany E, Third United States Infan-try, was taken tenderly by a

squad of seven comrades from the baggage car of the 10:20 Michigan Central train last night and thence to Durfee undertaking

rooms. Beside the carriage walked a funeral escort of 10 soldiers and two sailors. The deceased died at Camp

Wikoff last Thursday from a fe-ver. He was the son of Thomas Proper of No. 110 Evergreen Avenue, who was himself a sol-

dier in the Grand Army [Civil War]. Funeral services will be held at ten o’clock this morning at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church with full military rites at the grave

in the Valley City Cemetery under the direction of the local G.A.R. and the boys who are home.

The August 8, 1898 issue of

the Evening Press read -

HARRY ADAMS DEAD First Loss in the

Grand Rapids Troops

A VICTIM OF TYPHOID

Fernandina, Florida - The second

death in the ranks of the Thirty-Second Michigan occurred at 9:10 this morn-ing, when Pri-vate Harry Ad-

ams of Co. E, Grand Rapids, passed away. He had been

unconscious since early yes-terday morning and was kept up on stimulants. Everything pos-

sible was done for him, but in vain. His company officers and a number of his comrades had been with him continuously since last

night, and were with him when he died. Private Adams was nineteen years old and a great favorite

among his comrades. He was always jovial, and even when the company was compelled to grub palmetto roots he would cheer his

comrades on. He had been with the company since shortly after it went to Camp Eaton on April 26. The body will be embalmed

and sent to Grand Rapids. ...Harry F. Adams, who is the first of the Grand Rapids boys to

meet death in this war, was a native of this city; and 19 years old. He was a son of William K. Adams and brother of Fred J., Willis L., W.R. Adams and Mrs.

Henry Ramad (sp?). He was for two years in the employ of the Western Union Telegraph compa-ny, first as messenger and later

as night clerk, but resigned to enter the employ of Voigt, Herpolsheimer & Co., for whom he was working when the war

From the Michigan Soldier

Obituaries, 1899-1938 by Francis Hall [a member of the Sons of Veterans], the obituary for Private Jozeph C. Fabiszak read -

With the sharp volley of rifles of friends and associates and the sad sound of the bugle playing

taps over his last resting place, the body of Jozeph C. Fabiszak, formerly a private, Company K, 4th U.S. Infantry, the first contri-bution of this city to the dead list

of the Philippine Insurrection was laid in his grave yesterday morn-ing.

...The internment took place at Mt. Calvary single grave section and was conducted according to the regulation military form.

The obituary also sadly stated that through miscommunication, there was no family to greet the body upon its return to Grand

Rapids and as a result, the body (casket) sat on the platform of the depot for a day before anyone noticed it. All other trains were met by local citizens.

Honorable service & sacrifice

“Harry Adams”; The Evening Press; Date: 8.-8-1898; Page: 3; NewsBank

“Wrapped Up in the Flag”; The Grand Rapids Herald; Date: 09-14-1898; Issue: 5010; Page: 3; NewsBank

“Met By Strangers”; The Evening Press; Date: 10-27-1899; Page 1; Newsbank

Over 4,000 citizens

turned out for

Private Adams’ funeral in Greenwood

Cemetery.

- Evening Press

The floral tributes for

Private Proper were numerous and the sermon was a fitting

one for the occasion, the young hero being eulogized for his

sacrifice to the country.

- Herald

Other casualties of the

war include:

Clifford Curtis, Wounded in Cuba,

Co. L, 33rd MI & Sons of Veterans (Sand

Lake)

W.F. Knox,

Wounded in Cuba, Troop D,

Rough Riders

(Grand Rapids)

Arthur Maleham, Died of Disease

in Cuba,

Co. L, 33rd MI & Sons of Veterans

(Grand Rapids)

Gabhart Jung,

Died of Disease

in Cuba,

22nd U.S. Infantry (Grand Rapids)

John Van Breda, Died of Disease

in Porto Rico, Co. A, 2nd WI

(Grand Rapids)

Fred L. Riddle,

Died of Disease in Porto Rico,

19th U.S. Infantry (Grand Rapids)

August M. Erickson

Killed in Action in Philippines

19th U.S. Infantry

(Grand Rapids)


P A G E 8

The Hiker There are many differ-

ent styles of monuments erected across the United States to commemorate the Spanish-American War, ranging from bronze tablets

to inscribed boulders and statues. In Grand Rapids, the

statue known as The Hiker, was designed by a woman, Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson in 1906. The first piece was created for the University of

Minnesota, and after the Gorham Manufacturing Company purchased the rights to the statue, they cast

at least 50 Hiker statues. Only two exist in Michigan with the second one in Kala-mazoo.

The statue depicts a hero stripped of his parade uni-form and shown as a soldier reacting to the challenges of

the battlefield. The infantry

soldiers in the war referred to themselves as “hikers.” There is another version of The Hiker in existence as

designed by Allen Newman in 1904. (There are about twenty versions of that more rakish-looking soldier.)

In the dedication photo below (left) in Lookout Park, some of the men pictured include Charles Belknap,

Grand Rapids Mayor Alvin Swarthout, Michigan Gover-nor Green and Ex-Governor Osborne. The ceremony

was conducted on April 28, 1928. A large turnout helped the Guy V. Henry Camp No. 3, United Spanish War Veterans commemo-

rate their service and sacri-fice in the Spanish-American War.

The boulder was from Mill Creek near the North Park Boy Scout Camp and was hauled by rail down-

town. A team of six horses pulling a flatbed was pushed by a motor truck to get the boulder to Lookout.

1. GRPL Coll 59 Box 1 Fold 6 No. 153 2. Coll. 43 Box 1 Fold 6 No. 266 3. Coll 43 Box 1 Fold 6 No. 262 4. GRPL Coll 43 Box 1 Fold 6 No. 262

GRPL Collection 54 Box 18 Folder 3

The statue is made

of 3/8” bronze

and hollow.

It was cast at the

Gorham Foundry

in Rhode Island.

The bust of

Abraham Lincoln

in Lincoln Place

was also cast by

Gorham.

In 1957, the

United Spanish

War Veterans

petitioned the City

to move the statue

to Veterans

Memorial Park but

the request was

denied.

Monument Park at

that time was too

small to

accommodate

the statue.

Baldwin Park

already had the

statue of Charles

Belknap in it.

1

2

3

4

A memorial to the

dead.

The 1928

dedication

ceremony listed

the names of over

sixty (60) names in

whose memory the

monument was

dedicated.

P A G E 9

1957 to present (we’ve been here before) In the City Archives,

there are a series of letters between the veterans of the Spanish-American War, United Veterans Council of Kent County, and the City of

Grand Rapids regarding moving the Hiker. Letter dated March 8,

1957: “At the regular meeting of Guy V. Henry Camp No 3, United Spanish War Veter-

ans, Thursday evening, March 7th, 1957 it was voted to grant Fred C. See, Supt. of Parks the right to

remove our Spanish War Memorial Monument from Lookout Park to a new loca-tion in Veterans Memorial Park on Fulton Street.

At the time our HIKER Monument was placed in Lookout Park, that seemed

the only possible spot. But the late William H. Zylstra Com-mander of Camp No 3 in 1928, his committee includ-ing the Honorable Fred W.

Green who was Governor of Michigan at that time, and also a member of this camp, were assured by our Mayor

of 1928 that if and when another location might come, that the city of Grand Rapids would make the change of location.

From all that we know of the bad treatment (and that's a real lot) it will be wonder-

ful to see it in the Veterans Memorial Park….”

Letter dated March 19,

1957: “At the meeting of the United Veterans Council of Kent County held on March

12, 1957 it was resolved to request of the City of Grand Rapids the moving of the Spanish War memorial from

Lookout Park to Veterans Memorial Park. This request and petition is in concurrence with the request of the Guy V. Henry Camp , United

Spanish War Veterans who are also urging the moving of the Spanish War Memori-al to Veterans Memorial

Park. The reasons for such request are readily appar-ent as the memorial is lo-

cated in an out-of-the-way location where it does not receive the interest and prominence it deserves.

Furthermore, with the re-vamping of Veterans Memorial Park in process this would enable the change without serious dis-

arrangement of plans, and bring all of the war memo-rials together in the loca-tion where they belong, in

Veterans Memorial Park…” Letter dated April 6, 1957: “It has been fully ex-

plained to us that the type of our Spanish War Monument would not fit the surroundings of the new Veterans Memori-

al Park. Foster Park at Prospect and State street has been suggested as an ideal alter-

nate location.

With the thought in mind

that this Memorial is the property of the United Span-ish War Veterans, and while not wishing to create any disturbance, but wishing only

to preserve our monument, we do urge the City Commis-sion to allow Mr. Fred C. See, Supt. of Parks, to move

our Spanish War Memorial HIKER from Lookout Park to a location in the Foster Park….”

What was the Explana-tion? No documentation has

been found as to what the explanation was to not ap-prove moving the Hiker into Veterans Memorial Park.

Why not Monument Park?

Here again we can only assume that many thought

Monument Park too small as evidenced by a decision of the City Commission in 1900 to remove the Spanish-American War trophy from

Monument Park. The trophy was a cannon from the Spanish ship the Marie Tere-sa, given to the City for the

services of its citizens during the war.

Is this our chance to get it right?

See page 11 for more.


City of Grand Rapids Archives; Supporting Documentation for Proceedings; Nos. 4298, 4337, 5655, and 5751

P A G E 1 0

In researching the Spanish-

American War and the contribu-tion Grand Rapids made, it be-came quite clear that I knew very little. Yes, I knew that the sons of the veterans of the Civil

War had served in the Spanish-American War but that was about it. Even then I thought that that might be enough to propose

moving the Hiker to Veterans Memorial Park or Monument Park. However, after spending

vast hours on the Internet, in the Grand Rapids Public Library and in the City Archives, I firmly believe that events of the past

have made it quite clear that we are obligated to move the Spanish-American Hiker to Vet-erans Memorial Park or Monu-ment Park.

The Hiker is the link between Monument Park and Veterans Memorial Park. The reasons

why it should be (or can be) moved are as follows: One) By moving the Hiker, we would be honoring the wishes of

the veterans of that war. Just because they can no longer speak doesn’t mean we shouldn’t listen.

As a historian, and in my role

as the Memorials Officer for both the General John A. Logan Camp No. 1 and the Depart-ment of Michigan, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, I

have been extremely successful in connecting the present to the past.

In order to connect the pre-

sent to the past, I conduct exten-sive research in order to conduct a rededication ceremony that mirrors the original dedication

service. Here in Grand Rapids, a large number of such ceremo-nies once again found organiza-tions such as the Grand Rapids Fire Department, the Kent Coun-

ty Prosecuting Attorney, the of-fice of the Mayor, the Schubert Male Chorus and many others standing where their predeces-

sors had many years earlier.

Two) We have a responsibility

to remember the service and sacrifice of the soldier in the Spanish-American War just as we do the veterans of other wars. The monument to the sol-

dier of that war deserves to be near the monuments to the sol-diers of the Civil War, WW I, WW II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq,

and Afghanistan. Three) This monument is a trib-ute to the Spanish-American War soldiers from Kent County;

not just Grand Rapids. All of the other monuments are tributes to those from Kent County as well.

Four) With no disrespect to Foster Park, it is not a place of prominence as is Monument Park and Veterans Memorial Park.

Five) The City has spent a great deal of time seeking pub-lic input in an effort to rehabili-tate Monument Park and Veter-

ans Memorial Park. This effort will generate an even greater interest in the parks and the memorials in them.

To honor the service and sacri-fice of all of the wars in which Grand Rapids and Kent County men and women served without

including the Spanish-American War literally just doesn’t make sense. Six) The blood relationship be-

tween the soldier of the Civil War and his son in the Spanish-American War. To place the Hiker near the monument that

honors their Civil War fathers would honor the father and son relationship as well as the Grand Army of the Republic and the Sons of Veterans relation-

ship.

The historical link

GRPL Collection 43 Box 1 Folder 4 No. 193 and 197

A float in the 1925 Grand Army of the Republic National Encampment parade states “American Legion - Carry On” and signifies the passing of the symbolic torch or flag from

the Spanish-American War veterans to the veterans of World War I.

The Spanish-

American War did

much to unify the

country after the

Civil War.

Former Blue and

Gray served

together on the

same field of

battle.

P A G E 1 1

Fulton Street Park as Veterans

Memorial Park. That letter stated, “...Whereas it is most appro-priate that our war dead have the

park where their memorials are located to bear the name of Vet-erans Memorial Park, and...”

The response by the City was in support of the petition and stated, “During this month the citizens

of this community are staging a drive for funds to construct a suitable memorial to those men and women who made the su-

preme sacrifice in the defense of their country…Be IT RESOLVED that the name of Fulton Park be changed to Veterans Memorial Park out the principles herein

mentioned.” Another indication as to the purpose of Veterans Memorial

Park can be found on the back of a photograph of the WW I pillars, where someone wrote, “To Our Honored Dead.”

As shared previously, less than a year later, the United Spanish War Veterans and the United Veterans Council of Kent

County petitioned the City to move the Hiker. I share again the most im-portant comments from that ex-

change because I believe that today, we have an opportunity

While I represent the Sons of

Union Veterans of the Civil War as a stakeholder in the project to rehabilitate Monument and Veterans Memorial Parks, I am also the Executive Director of

History Remembered, Inc. History Remembered strives to be “the voices of those no

longer with us.” In every pro-ject we’ve been involved in, we conduct the research necessary to learn what those no longer with us said. Too often, we for-

get the importance of the past and more often, we somehow assume we know better today on how things should be pre-

served and/or restored. In many cases, what we choose is not what those from the past would agree with.

One such decision was to alter the theme or intent of Vet-erans Memorial Park several years ago with the decision to

place the Purple Heart Monu-ment in the park. While the current Park Steering Committee discussed the possibility of re-moving the monument out of

Veterans Memorial Park, a deci-sion was made to allow the mon-ument to remain as long as it was not displayed with the other

war memorials which honor the dead. In a letter dated May 7, 1956, the United Veterans Council of

Kent County petitioned the City of Grand Rapids to rename

to comply with their wishes.

In the letter from the United Veterans Council of Kent County, dated March 18, 1957, to the Mayor and City Commission,

“The reasons for such request are readily apparent as the me-morial is located in an out-of-the-

way location where it does not receive the interest and promi-nence it deserves. Furthermore, with the revamping of Veterans Memorial Park being in process

this would enable the change without serious disarrangement of plans, and bring most of the War memorials together in the

location where they belong, Vet-erans Memorial Park….” What would the veterans of the Spanish-American War say

today? Would they not say the same thing except ask that their monument be placed in Monu-ment Park where room now ex-

ists? The United Veterans Council of Kent County, the Elks Lodge No. 48, and many others are

supportive of this effort to honor the wishes of the past.

Letters & more from the past

Proceedings Item No. 4298 Grand Rapids City Archives



Voigt Milling, Powers and

Walker Casket Co.,

Grand Rapids Brass, and nearly every business in

Grand Rapids promised

to hold open the job of

each employee who en-

listed to serve?

George Fox survived sinking of the U.S.S. Maine

and received a gold watch

from the City of Grand

Rapids?

The first soldier from

Kent County to die in the

Spanish-American War was Henry F. Adams, Co.

E, 32nd Michigan of ty-

phoid fever? His body

was returned home and

thousands attended his

funeral (buried at Green-

wood).

Joseph C. Fabiszak was

the first casualty of the

action in the Philippines?

Private William H. Dean,

Co B, 7th U.S. Cavalry

[possibly 1st U.S. Artil-lery, Battery A] and resi-

dent of Grand Rapids, was

the first soldier to volun-

teer to participate in Dr.

Walter Reed’s experi-

ments regarding yellow

fever?

The new Fulton Street

Bridge in 1928 was dedi-

cated Dean Memorial

Bridge in honor of Wil-

liam H. Dean?

Grand Rapids received one of the 14cm Hontoria

guns from the Spanish

ship Marie Teresa as a

war trophy? It resided at

Monument Park and John

Ball Park and finally on the

grounds where the old

Public Museum Building is

today.

The City Commission

voted on numerous occa-

sions to provide money

($5,736.71) for flowers, supplies, parades, hospi-

tals and other care for the

soldiers upon their return

home?

The song Dewey’s Ad-

vance was composed by

May C. McBride and dedi-cated to the Evening Press

Newsboy’s Band?

Admiral Dewey was given

a large parade in June

1900.

These events attest to the fact that at one time, Grand Rapids was very

appreciative of the soldier in the Span-Am War and demonstrated as much.

Should we do any less today?

Sons of Veterans Spanish-American War Veterans

The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)

The 1925 Grand

Army of the Republic National

Encampment was held in Grand

Rapids. Here march the Sons of

Veterans, Spanish-American War

Veterans and the Grand Army of the

Republic

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