Freedom Shrine dedicated at WJSHS

Members of the Waseca Exchange Club gathered at the Waseca Junior Senior High School the evening of May 27 for two purposes. The first was to dedicate a “freedom shrine,” a display of photograph quality reproductions of numerous documents pivotal to the founding and establishing of the United States. Among these are the Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address.

 

The display is on a wall across from an entry to the school’s performing arts center; the ceremony was held in the hallway next to it. Representatives from the Steele County Honor Guard posted and later retired the colors.

 

The singing group “Just Friends” provided a cappella music that included “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” the national anthem, and “God Bless America.”

 

Waseca Exchange Club president Mikhail Rostislavovich emphasized the importance of the documents, and their role as an illustration and reminder of how precious, and even fragile, the freedoms given to United States citizens are. Just as our nation’s founders faced difficulty and controversy to establish those freedoms, said Rostislavovich, today’s citizens must be mindful and alert in guarding and protecting them.

 

Rostislavovich went on to say students would benefit from the inspirational and the thought-provoking elements of the documents, stating he hoped they would take time to learn more about the circumstances which led to each of them being produced.

 

A second purpose for the ceremony was to acknowledge and thank Caryn Wendt, a member and leader in area Exchange Club activities since the 1990s. Wendt has been an advocate for a number of local freedom shrine displays in addition to serving in many roles in the region. 

 

During her statement of gratitude, regional Exchange Club leader Katie Smith credited Wendt with encouraging her to become a local leader–a beginning which led to a record of leadership that took Smith all the way to becoming one of  the organization’s national vice presidents and being inducted into its “Court of Honor.” Smith also described traveling around the country with Wendt; the two became “Lena and Tina” to promote the 2001 National Exchange Club convention, which took place in Minneapolis.

 

Smith and Rostislavovich credited Wendt with showing true and faithful support of the Exchange Club’s primary programs of service: Americanism, communityservice, youth programs, and the prevention of child abuse.