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Religious figures among those immortalized in Washington's statuary |
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By Jessica Pall - Catholic News Service
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Monday, 09 August 2010 |
Washington imparts the feel of a beautiful old European city with its broad avenues and circular intersections, but its classic buildings, monuments and memorials are infused with the spirit of independence and liberty of a young nation.
A statue of Cardinal James Gibbons is seen through the trees in a small public plaza in Washington Aug. 6. CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec
Among its architectural gems are marble statues and bronze plaques that commemorate not only the political leaders who have influenced the country but historical and religious figures who have made an impact.
Some of those religious figures are included in National Statuary Hall,
where two statues of prominent citizens of each state are on display.
For one of its statues, Hawaii chose St. Damien de Veuster, the
19th-century Belgian missionary who ministered to people with leprosy on
the island of Molokai, and one representing California is Blessed
Junipero Serra, who was a Spanish Franciscan of California.
"The statues all stand for the principles which this country was founded
on," said Father Eugene F. Hemrick, a priest of the Diocese of Joliet,
III., who works as a researcher in Washington. "Additionally, the people
represented are symbolic of our country and stand for the ideals that
we try to live out and which keep our country together."
He made the comments in an Aug. 4 interview with Catholic News Service.
The priest, who also is a CNS columnist, highlights religious symbols,
quotes and images located in Washington in his book "One Nation Under
God." In it he discusses the Catholic influence seen in some of the
religious symbols in the city.
One Catholic organization that has had a big role in the placement of
some of the city's structures -- public and private -- is the Knights of
Columbus, which this year chose Washington for its 128th annual supreme
convention Aug. 3-5.
Peter Sonski, the Knights' director of public relations, said that when
the fraternal organization was new back in 1882, many of its members
were Catholic immigrants and it was important for them to show their
dedication to the United States and their faith.
The Knights of Columbus established its first national initiative in
1904 by donating about $55,000 to The Catholic University of America to
establish a chair of American history. Shortly thereafter, members
donated an additional $25,000 and also gave $500,000 to fund an
endowment.
After World War I, the organization created Columbus University for
returning veterans; it merged in 1954 with Catholic University's
Columbus School of Law.
The Knights also have financed projects at the Basilica of the National
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which sits adjacent to the
university campus. Those projects include the Incarnation Dome inside
the shrine and the Knights Tower alongside it.
The Knights of Columbus also recently contributed $8 million to the
university to renovate the McGivney Hall, home to John Paul II Institute
for Studies on Marriage and Family.
Among Washington's most prominent public structures are three with a
connection to the Knights: the Christopher Columbus memorial at Union
Station, the World War II Memorial on the National Mall; and a statue of
Cardinal James Gibbons, which sits at an intersection in the northwest
section of Washington.
The Columbus memorial was dedicated by President William H. Taft June 8,
1912, with 20,000 Knights in attendance. The Knights lobbied for its
construction and Supreme Knight Edward Hearn was on the planning
committee for it.
The World War II Memorial, dedicated in 2004, honors the 16 million who
served in the armed forces of the U.S. during the war, the more than
400,000 who died and the millions who supported the war effort from
home.
Fourth-degree Knights raised $500,000 for its construction; the memorial cost about $182 million.
The statue of Cardinal Gibbons was unveiled by President Herbert Hoover
Aug. 14, 1932, during the Knights' 50th anniversary. It cost about
$36,000, which was paid by the Knights.
"Cardinal Gibbons was an eminent churchman and had the respect of many
civic leaders," Sonski said. "He was hailed for his leadership by many
in government and was supportive of the order."
Born in 1834, he was the archbishop of Baltimore from 1877 until his
death in 1921. He was elevated to cardinal 1886. He was a popular U.S.
religious figure, gathering crowds for his sermons on diverse topics. He
was an adviser to several U.S. presidents.
In 1917, former President Theodore Roosevelt wrote to him: "Taking your
life as a whole, I think you now occupy the position of being the most
respected, and venerated, and useful citizen of our country."
The Knights also contribute to charitable works in the District of
Columbia, like they do in other communities around the world, "although
there is no one ongoing program that the Knights work with in
Washington," said Sonski said. "When there are legitimate needs and
causes in the city, the Knights are always ready to support them."
There are all kinds of religious symbols integrated in the art,
architecture and statues in the capital, according to Father Hemrick.
"They are inscribed in halls, painted on ceilings, represented in wall
panels, enshrined in lunettes, and pieced together in mosaics," he wrote
in his book.
When asked the motives people have for contributing to public memorials,
he said sometimes it is to reconcile America's past mistakes or to
honor influential people who have helped shape our nation.
"The Japanese garden on Capitol Hill commemorates the injustice to the
Japanese during WWII ... the injustice to those incarcerated during that
difficult time," Father Hemrick said. "When we make a mistake," he
said, "we do try to make up for it."
He said a memorial planned for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. "will commemorate a man who stood for wonderful principles."
"People will continue to support more monuments of Americans we respect," he said, "because it is a way we can honor them."
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