Posted by (+10381) 17 years ago
So is there enough interest in Miles to work toward creating a Maurice R Hilleman Day to recognize this man?
For those not familiar with Hilleman - see:
http://milescity.com/foru...fpid=10019
If there is interest in this - August 30, his birthday, seems like it would a good day for it - but I suppose any day would be better than none.
I don't know if would be the mayor, the council, or both who'd have to issue a proclamation (or whatever) making August 30 Maurice R. Hilleman Day in Miles City - but approaching city government seems like a logical way to get the ball rolling. (it might be worth trying to bring the county commissioners on board too - and I don't know if it's something the Chamber, and other groups should contacted about - that's something those in Miles who are interested in this would have to decide).
I suspect that if Miles City were to grant recognition to the man, it wouldn't be too difficult to persuade the Governor and legislature (if needed) to come up some sort of state-wide proclamation recognizing Maurice R Hilleman Day.
If we put together an information packet to educate them on who Hilleman was and the significance of his work . . . if we circulated a petitions and gathered a few signatures . . . I think politicians would be falling over themselves to get onboard a drive to have Montana recognize this man.
I suspect that if we put our minds to it, within a couple years August 30 (or whenever) could be Maurice R Hilleman Day in Montana.
Once that was done, it would not be unimaginable that we could work for some kind of proclamation / recognition at the D.C. level. Again, what politician isn't going to want to be associated with honoring a man who saved millions of lives?
But, if nothing else . . . if we put our minds to it, we should be able to create enough buzz to find a place in Miles to mount that memorial plaque that Frank Masterson created (unless we've already delayed too long and lost that opportunity):
http://milescity.com/foru...0019#16835
Then, if we built up that much momentum, we could probably create a web site and put together some educational materials for teachers if they wanted to mention the man in their classes.
Perhaps we could even eventually establish something along the lines of a memorial scholarship fund for graduates of Custer High.
But it seems to me that this has to / should start in Miles, if it's going to happen.
And I think if it's going to happen, it's going to take more than asking the mayor about it on this bulletin board - those of us who are interested in this are probably going to have to actually do something. Dumping it in someone else's lap and then grumbling that nothing is being done . . . well that's probably not the path to success
I'd be more than happy to help put together an information packet (if one is needed) to use in the effort to get things started in Miles.
If we decided to push on the stare level, I'd be very happy to help circulate petitions and "lobby" some politicians that I have connections with.
If anyone is interested in this, contact me privately (neander97 [at] yahoo.com) . . . we'll see if we can assemble a group of interested folks and see if we can make this happen.
[This message has been edited by Hal Neumann (edited 5/7/2006).]
For those not familiar with Hilleman - see:
http://milescity.com/foru...fpid=10019
If there is interest in this - August 30, his birthday, seems like it would a good day for it - but I suppose any day would be better than none.
I don't know if would be the mayor, the council, or both who'd have to issue a proclamation (or whatever) making August 30 Maurice R. Hilleman Day in Miles City - but approaching city government seems like a logical way to get the ball rolling. (it might be worth trying to bring the county commissioners on board too - and I don't know if it's something the Chamber, and other groups should contacted about - that's something those in Miles who are interested in this would have to decide).
I suspect that if Miles City were to grant recognition to the man, it wouldn't be too difficult to persuade the Governor and legislature (if needed) to come up some sort of state-wide proclamation recognizing Maurice R Hilleman Day.
If we put together an information packet to educate them on who Hilleman was and the significance of his work . . . if we circulated a petitions and gathered a few signatures . . . I think politicians would be falling over themselves to get onboard a drive to have Montana recognize this man.
I suspect that if we put our minds to it, within a couple years August 30 (or whenever) could be Maurice R Hilleman Day in Montana.
Once that was done, it would not be unimaginable that we could work for some kind of proclamation / recognition at the D.C. level. Again, what politician isn't going to want to be associated with honoring a man who saved millions of lives?
But, if nothing else . . . if we put our minds to it, we should be able to create enough buzz to find a place in Miles to mount that memorial plaque that Frank Masterson created (unless we've already delayed too long and lost that opportunity):
http://milescity.com/foru...0019#16835
Then, if we built up that much momentum, we could probably create a web site and put together some educational materials for teachers if they wanted to mention the man in their classes.
Perhaps we could even eventually establish something along the lines of a memorial scholarship fund for graduates of Custer High.
But it seems to me that this has to / should start in Miles, if it's going to happen.
And I think if it's going to happen, it's going to take more than asking the mayor about it on this bulletin board - those of us who are interested in this are probably going to have to actually do something. Dumping it in someone else's lap and then grumbling that nothing is being done . . . well that's probably not the path to success

I'd be more than happy to help put together an information packet (if one is needed) to use in the effort to get things started in Miles.
If we decided to push on the stare level, I'd be very happy to help circulate petitions and "lobby" some politicians that I have connections with.
If anyone is interested in this, contact me privately (neander97 [at] yahoo.com) . . . we'll see if we can assemble a group of interested folks and see if we can make this happen.
[This message has been edited by Hal Neumann (edited 5/7/2006).]