Unfettered Letters

Praise for Liberty Memorial

As a young boy and through my early 20s I visited the Liberty Memorial several times. It had been more than 40 years since my last visit. On Jan. 21, my wife and I had the pleasure of visiting the memorial once more. I was impressed with the new facilities. What a great improvement. The volunteers were very knowledgeable and helpful.

Also present that day were three busloads of students. I was happy to see them as there are things to be learned at the memorial that were not in my history books. And the students were well behaved. I might add the memorial has a research center for further studies.

Bill Schaffer
Independence

Hats off to Aretha

I hope the Smithsonian acquires Aretha Franklin’s beautiful “big bow” hat she wore at President Obama’s inauguration to display for future generations.

Put it with Lincoln’s stove-pipe hat or Louie Armstrong’s trumpet, but get it and keep it. It will forever be associated with Aretha’s breathtaking rendition of “My Country ’Tis of Thee” at this historic moment.

Ken Kelly
Mission

Steamboat visitors appreciated Hawley

We were among the last people to see Greg Hawley on Saturday before his untimely death (1/12, Local, “Steamboat museum leader killed in wreck; Police say Greg Hawley’s vehicle was struck by a teen racing in a BMW”).

We decided to visit the Steamboat Arabia Museum on Jan. 10. This was the first time we had visited. During our visit we listened to Greg Hawley as he shared with such pride and passion the adventure his family had finding and excavating the Arabia. He spoke of the future for the museum.

It is with a heavy heart we say thank you to the Hawley family for the opportunity to have met Greg Hawley.

Tony and Deborah Goodson
Olathe

WWI museum is a KC gem

After living in the Kansas City area, going to the WWI memorial had been on my list of things to do. After visiting the memorial, tower and museum, I would urge all to consider a visit.

The museum shows the attitude of this country before the war. As we watched the war in the other countries, we felt it did not concern the United States. As the war progressed, it became evident that we were going to be drawn into the war of the worlds.

The exhibits detail events from the western fronts in Europe and eastern fronts in the Pacific. We were not considered a major player in world events prior to World War I, but our entry signaled the world that we were ready to defend our beliefs and to defend other countries.

The tower and the eternal flame have become a symbol of the lives given in defense of our country and the pride we have for our contribution to WWI. Millions of lives that ended during the war are represented by a poppy field located in the museum.

This visit rekindled the pride I feel in Kansas City and the United States.

Diane Brown
Kansas City

Railroad exhibit at Nelson

I have to admit that I am not a fervid aficionado of railroads, but I want to report that the exhibition “Art in the Age of Steam: Europe, America and the Railway, 1830-1960” at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is well worth a visit.

There are works of art I have never seen before and great paintings that are not usually lent by individuals and museums throughout the world.

I plan to return several times to get my fill of this show, and I hope railroad buffs will be joined by art lovers in seeing the works brought together by this exhibition. Don’t miss it!

Pinky Kase
Leawood

Editor’s note: “Art in the Age of Steam” continues through Jan. 18 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

‘Bodies Revealed’ corpses

I am very disappointed to read Union Station CEO Andi Udris’ statement that he knew months ago the body donation forms provided as certification for the origin of the “Bodies Revealed” exhibit corpses were not authentic (8/29, Local, “.‘Bodies Revealed’ form not signed by Chinese donors”).

Udris acknowledges the fraud was verified in March and then hidden from the public until now. This is an inexcusable breach of the public trust, especially in light of the exhibitor’s repeated assertions, in answer to inquiries, that the bodies were knowingly donated. There were public inquiries and concerns during that period, which Mr. Udris has apparently conveniently forgotten for the sake of his little cover-up and the flow of visitor dollars.

The last time I tried the “I forgot to be honest” excuse was in 1964. Sister Rose Agnes at St. Ann’s school in Prairie Village whacked me with a yardstick. I hope the exhibit sponsors have a yardstick available for Mr. Udirs and whack him for betraying their trust and ours.

Kevin L. Neuer
Belton

WWI Museum a KC treasure

In “KC’s got a winner in World War I Museum” (8/18, Opinion), Laura Scott gave the public a much-needed message. Kansas City really does have a splendid “jewel” in the Liberty Memorial — itself an architectural jewel deserving more local recognition.

The Memorial was dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge on Nov. 11, 1926. The architect was New Yorker H. Van Buren Magonigle. His visionary design, with its 217-foot flame-topped tower, has kept watch over our city into the 21st century.

When the ravages of time necessitated basic restoration to the Liberty Memorial, Kansas City architect Stephen Abend was chosen to revitalize Kansas City’s historic landmark. For this, he recently received the American Institute of Architects 2008 Award for Architecture, one of only 13 nationwide. It was the architect’s vision to utilize the vast cavity beneath the Memorial, the product of the original 1920s excavation, and form an expansive complex, including a setting for an expanded WW I Museum.

Here, Ralph Appelbaum Associates designed the remarkable showcase for WWI treasures, the National World War I Museum, worthy of repeated visits.

Sarajane S. Aber
Liberty Memorial Association Trustee
Kansas City

Keep the jazz at 18th & Vine

In response to Alexander Madrigal’s call to relocate Kansas City’s jazz district (7/31, Letters): Haven’t you noticed how long it takes to get things done in Kansas City? Watkins Parkway, light rail, school district accreditation — you name it, and Kansas City will take forever and a day to make it happen, if at all.

How about relocating Southwest Boulevard to 135th and Metcalf so that the “moneyed” people (code word for Caucasian) will flock there?

As a veteran musician who was born and raised in Kansas City, graduated from an accredited Southwest High School and still lives in the metro area, I have also witnessed the slothlike progress of our city.

I was fortunate enough to play at a club in the jazz district recently and was encouraged by what I witnessed: folks dressed up to go out, a clean and well-operated venue, a diverse and attentive audience, and, yes, “moneyed” bleedover from the Power & Light District.

Slow progress is still progress. Patience and persistence will prevail over attempts to relocate history for sake of a quick buck.

Chris Immele
Grandview

Nelson-Atkins expansion

My wife, three young children and I live in Rockhill, across a small street from the Rockhill Tennis Club. Daily, we play outside watching people come and go carrying rackets or ushering children dressed for the pool. The club fits in the neighborhood, as it has for 50 years.

The Nelson plans to reach over the 40-foot retaining wall at the Bloch Building and across four lanes of traffic on Rockhill Road into our single-family residential neighborhood to convert the home William Rockhill Nelson built for his daughter into private office space. Adding a sculpture garden to comply with existing codes would only draw more car and foot traffic into the neighborhood. This type of encroachment does not fit in a residential neighborhood.

The Nelson has represented that it will not renew the club’s lease under any circumstance and will leave the home vacant if necessary. It seems spiteful, but it is their right. They own the property and cannot be told what they must do with it, but this ordinance is needed to place limits on what they can do.

William Rockhill Nelson built this family neighborhood. His legacy should not be chipping away at it.

Michael Lawhead
Kansas City

God’s wondrous work ‘Revealed’

There is an old hymn that most churches don’t sing much anymore. The opening words are, “What a friend we have in Jesus.”

Our tribe went to see “Bodies Revealed” recently. I understand there is more than one version of this traveling expedition, but this one, like most items today, comes from China.

The Bible says “We are fearfully and wonderfully made.” Each exhibit underlined and punctuated that statement with a dramatic exclamation point. I look up at the heavens or at the smallest things we can find on earth, and the same is true for them as well.

The Bible also says that man is without excuse, for God has made himself known through what he has made. We will be held accountable.

I refer you to the first paragraph.

Chet Hanson
Prairie Village