Dear friend,

Thank you for your interest in the proposed National Railroader's Memorial project. It is with hope for the generosity of you and many others, we have undertaken to design and erect this shrine.

If the vision we have for the memorial can become a reality, it will be perhaps like none in the country that is dedicated to a specific group of workmen and their families. The dangers faced by Railroaders on the job, were known to every railroad family member and were of such magnitude at one time, many workers could not purchase life insurance. This led to the creation of the Union Brotherhoods. It is planned to make the railroad family a major point of focus in the theme for the memorial and it will emphasize the men and machines who pioneered the growth and development of America in the era of the steam locomotive.

We hope you will elect to send us your gift of a financial contribution and share in the sense of satisfaction when the moment for a public dedication and consecration for a well deserved and long overdue tribute to this special group of people and their families takes place in 1998.

Please join with us to make it happen.

Board of Trustees

National Railroader's Memorial Project

 

Published by

The Niles Railroad Historical Association, Inc.

Niles, Michigan

THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR GIFT CONTRIBUTION

In the absence of a commitment by any financially responsible person, group or firm with financial means to underwrite the cost of such a project at this time, the upfront expenses must be met with advance donations. Until and unless such a guarantor comes forward, it will be the checks of donors that will permit us to get started on the design and planning for the project. As the work advances, additional funds will be needed to pay the suppliers and craftsmen. It may also be necessary to purchase the site for the memorial to appropriately locate it in a suitable place.

We have established five levels of gift amounts for your pledge that would be due and payable as an advance payment as shown and the balance in 6 months and 12 months.

SPONSOR... A pledge of $25 with advance payment of $10.

GIFTS IN MEMORIAM... A pledge of $50 with advance payment of $20 (Widows/widowers on railroad retirement $25 pledge, with special cases reviewed by the Board of Trustees to waive all costs.) Your early pledge will insure the name of the recipient being enrolled on the enshrined, copper scrolls. Enrollment will apply on any gift of $50 or more. Please furnish the biographical information requested on the enclosed pledge card.

PATRON... A pledge of $100 to $250 with advance payment of 20% of total gift.

BENEFACTOR... A pledge of $250 to $500 with advance payment of 20% of total gift.

ENDOWMENT GRANT... Corporate and charitable trust gifts of $1,000 or more.

Some may be able to give a larger donation than others, however, every gift will be gratefully accepted and acknowledged with a receipt, regardless of size.

All contributors will receive a certificate of gratitude on fine parchment or linen paper for framing. Gifts in MEMORIAM will be so inscribed with the name of the recipient.

A pledge as a Benefactor ($250) will receive a copy of the book, 'AN AMERICAN COLOSSUS... A SMALL TOWN, A RIVER AND A RAILROAD YARD", signed by the author, or a desktop memento of a glass telegraph line insulator, mounted on a beautiful native American walnut base with a brass plate engraved to show the contributor's name and support of the NATIONAL RAILROADER'S MEMORIAL. Donations of $500 or more will receive both gifts of appreciation.

ABOUT THE SPONSORING ORGANIZATION

The NATIONAL RAILROADER'S MEMORIAL is a project undertaken by the NILES RAILROAD HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.. In addition to this project, the Association has long term objectives to inspire the recording and preservation of railroad history, lore, legend and the men who were employed in rail service, their families and home towns.

In writing the book we have published, 'AN AMERICAN COLOSSUS.. . A SMALL TOWN, A RIVER AND A RAILROAD YARD", by William Taylor, Jr., the author learned first hand in his research efforts, of the rapidly disappearing records and photos of railroad history in small towns across America where it took place. There remains but a handful of men who labored in railroad work in the first half of the 20th century in this country. Soon, there will be none to relate their personal experiences for posterity.

Apart from the enormous satisfaction of being the catalyst to launch the effort to build the Memorial, is the knowledge of having been able to record at least part of the local rail history and traditions of Niles, Michigan. We should like to make the benefits of our experiences in that respect available to other small towns, that they might also undertake similar projects in their communities. We would provide the assistance of our experience in the complete process of gathering information, organizing and putting it in book form and even publishing it should they desire.

We hope you will join with us in making the NATIONAL RAILROADER'S MEMORIAL a reality by returning the following pledge card and your check to provide the means for us to get the project up and running.

DONATION / PLEDGE CARD

To: Niles Railroad Historical Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 35 Niles, Ml 49120

I/we have read the prospectus brochure and wish to donate to the project for the design, planning and erection of a NATIONAL RAILROADER'S MEMORIAL in Niles, Michigan. I/we enclose a gift check in the amount of $_____ as outlined and described in the prospectus.

I/we prefer to enclose our pledge to donate the amount of $______, due and payable in six (6) or twelve (1 2) months. I/we also enclose a check for $________ as an advance part of the pledge to meet immediate financial needs to start the project.

This gift/pledge is at the level of:

Sponsor ($25.00)
Patron ($100-$250)
Gift in Memoriam ($50)
Benefactor ($250-$500)
Endowment Grant ($1,000 or more)

Name: ______________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________

City: _______________________________________________________

State: ________________________________ Zip: __________________

Phone number :_______________________________________________

Signature: ___________________________________________________

Please note if you are a railroad retiree, widow or widower on Railroad Retirement:

Yes: __________

No: __________

If you are making a contribution in memoriam and wish to have the name and brief railroad work history of the recipient inscribed on the copper scrolls to be enshrined in the memorial, please provide the information to answer the biographical questions on the other side of this pledge card. This level of donation may be made as a living memorial as well as one to honor and pay tribute to those veteran railroaders who are deceased to record their names and railroad service for posterity in either case.

* Any gift of $50 or more may be made in memoriam.

MEMORIAL RECIPIENT INFORMATION

Name of Recipient: _______________________________________________________________________________

Name of spouse: _________________________________________________________________________________

(Check one) Living: __________ Deceased: ___________

Relationship: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Position of employment: ____________________________________________________________________________

Railroad of employment: ____________________________________________________________________________

Home terminal or Division point: ______________________________________________________________________

Dates of service: __________________________________________________________________________________

Was recipient a veteran of military service with U.S. Forces? (Check one) Yes: ________ No: ________

Branch of service: _________________________________________________________________________________

If recipient is deceased, did he/she lose their life while on duty in railroad service? If yes, give details using extra sheet of paper if necessary:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Please give details of any unique aspects or incidents in the railroad career of the recipient:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for this information that will provide basic details to be inscribed on the copper scrolls to be enshrined in sealed capsules of inert gas in the base of THE NATIONAL RAILROADER'S MEMORIAL in Niles, Michigan. While there remains available space, the names of those who lost their lives in rail service will be engraved in the walls of the memorial. The inscription of names on the copper scrolls will continue into the future as well.