The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by David Grimes Quill Correspondent
CARTHAGE - Greg Hoener's history students usually learn from lesson objectives written on a blackboard.
But lessons learned by all Americans now are etched in stone and displayed at the Hancock County Courthouse, thanks to Hoener, who teaches several history courses at Carthage High School, and a multitude of other Blue Crew members.
Blue Crew is a loose-knit booster group comprised of Carthage High School students and alumni that raises money for the school.
Two years ago, the group began to think about what it could do to honor their country and the result was a granite memorial dedicated to President Bush.
"At first we thought about creating a memorial from a restored Army Jeep, but we were unable to find one," Hoener said.
Hoener said the idea came at a time when the nation was pondering the issues of 9/11, Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq.
The theme is to honor America, reflect on what has made it a proud nation and learn from the problems and mistakes of the past.
"The scenes etched in the monument show the founding fathers at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the flag being raised at Iwo Jima, a scene from the Civil War and the flag that was erected at Ground Zero in New York City following 9/11," Hoener said. "Above those scenes is a rendering of Christ's hands reaching down from the clouds."
Harrison Monuments, Warsaw, Ill., took on the responsibility of creating the artwork and etching it into the 130-pound black granite monument.
It took about two months to complete the memorial.
The granite memorial was dedicated by Hoener and members of the Blue Crew to George W. Bush on behalf of all Americans Monday morning at the Hancock County courthouse.
The finished piece measures 30-by-30-inches and is an inch thick. It cost $1,000.
The original plans were to have the piece shipped to the president in Washington, but arrangements with local lawmakers stagnated. After a brainstorming session in the Hancock County sheriff's office, Hoener said Sheriff John Jefferson suggested placing the work in the courthouse.
Plans are to notify Bush about the tribute and that the stone rendering some day will make its way to Bush's presidential library, which would save the Blue Crew the cost of shipping the piece to the nation's capital.
"We'll let him know it's here and he can come and get it," Hoener said.
An inscription on the monument dedicates the work to Bush's accomplishments and admonishes all Americans to learn from the past or be doomed to fail in the future.
Senator John Sullivan, Carthage High School history teacher Greg Hoener and members of the school's booster club, the Blue Crew, admire the granite memorial dedicated to President George W. Bush.