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Madison Elementary School, Warsaw, became the only school in Kosciusko County with a Freedom Shrine Thursday.
"You're the only school we've dedicated a Freedom Shrine to because we know how special your school is," said Karen Peterson, Kosciusko Board of Realtors administrative executive, at the dedication ceremony at Madison.
The Freedom Shrine was presented to the school from the Warsaw Business Masters Exchange Club and Kosciusko County Board of Realtors.
There are 28 documents in the Freedom Shrine, ranging from a copy of the Declaration of Independence to Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech to the Mayflower Compact. Developed by the National Exchange Club, the Freedom Shrine originated from the Freedom Train that toured the nation in 1947, carrying an exhibit of historic documents.
"I hope," Warsaw Business Exchange President Clay Rassi told the Madison Elementary students, "you not only take the time to read these documents but also get to know their history as well."
After Walter Scott, National Business Exchange representative, made the official dedication of the Freedom Shrine, Indiana state Sen. Robert Meeks spoke to the students about what the Indiana flag represents. He also presented Madison with a state flag that flew over the Indiana Capitol.
The torch on the Indiana flag, Meeks said, represents freedom. Each of the lines from the torch represents freedom's reach to each corner of the state. The 19 stars on the flag represent the first 19 states in the union, with Indiana being the 19th. The largest star on the flag represents Indiana, he said.
Madison Elementary teacher Doug Hoffert read Sen. John McCain's "A Flag of Rags." The piece describes how, while he was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, McCain and other POWs kept their patriotism alive.
Four students received "Good Citizen" awards and $50 savings bonds, presented by Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins. Those students were Ben Truman, Betsy Paar, Nate Daughenbaugh and Juan Cervantes.
