[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19839]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MADONNA OF THE TRAIL

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                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2003

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to recognize the 
75th anniversary of the Madonna of the Trail. One of these historic 
statues stands in my hometown of Lexington, Missouri, where the pioneer 
mother monument was presented by the Daughters of the American 
Revolution in 1928. The pioneer mother looks west, up the Missouri 
River, on an area that was settled by American pioneers more than 160 
years ago.
  In the early 1900's, the Daughters of the American Revolution 
suggested marking the national Old Trails Road with a series of small 
markers placed at frequent intervals along the route. This road began 
with Braddock's Road in 1755. Lt. George Washington surveyed the road, 
which was cut through the Allegheny Mountains by British soldiers. The 
road was later continued as the Columbia Pike; the Great Valley Road; 
the Wilderness Road (cut by Daniel Boone across the Cumberland Gap); 
the Cumberland Road (also known as the National Road); Boone's Lick 
Road; and, finally, as the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails.
  In 1924, Missouri State Regent, Mrs. John Trigg Moss of St. Louis, a 
member of the Cornelia Green Chapter, envisioned the idea of placing an 
identical statue in each of the twelve states crossed by the National 
Old Trails Road instead of small markers.
  The twelve statues, designed by St. Louis sculptor August Leimbach, 
are made of algonite stone, a poured mass, of which the Missouri 
granite is used as the main aggregate, thus giving the monument a warm, 
pink shade. They stand ten-feet tall on a six-foot base with a five-
foot foundation (two-feet showing) below.
  The Madonna of the Trail is a pioneer woman clasping her baby with 
her young son clinging to her skirt. The face of the mother, strong in 
character, beauty, and gentleness, is the face of a mother who realizes 
her responsibilities and trust in God. It has a feeling of solidarity--
a monument that will stand through the ages.
  Marking the 67th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington during the 
Civil War and facing ever Westward, the Pioneer Mother statue was 
dedicated on September 17, 1928. The presentation of the American 
Legion Memorial Flag and Flag pole was made by Ike Skelton III. The 
keynote speaker was Judge Harry S. Truman, President of the National 
Old Trails Association.
  Mr. Speaker, the Daughters of the American Revolution can be proud of 
the Madonna of the Trail statue and the 75 years it has graced the City 
of Lexington. I know the Members of the House will join me in saluting 
the Daughters of the American Revolution for their contributions to 
preserving American history.

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