100 Great Americans for a National Garden of Heroes

          

  In the days following President Trump’s announcement regarding the “National Garden of American Heroes,” I began contemplating how I, an ordinary American citizen, would construct such a place and who would be honored with a monument. It is helpful from time to time to look back at the individuals who crafted American culture: the great men and women our present era can look to for guidance and admiration.

First, here is the criteria I would use to discern the individuals:

1. He or she need not be a native-born American citizen, but he or she should have spent a good portion of the lives in the United States and be easily identified as an American. This rule can be modified to accommodate figures pre-Revolutionary War.

2. He or she must have made a significant, positive contribution to American culture, society, and heritage. They must have excelled in their field and be good example for every American generation.

3. The Book of Romans tells us that “no man is without sin.” No hero is perfect. A serious personal fault or even grave sin in one area of life does not negate the important contributions in another. We can admire someone’s achievements without approving every behavior.

4. He or she must have been deceased for at least ten years prior to inclusion.

5. Usually, a monument should honor a single individual. However, thematic pairs or even groups may be included in certain circumstances.

6. Once included in the Garden, an individual’s monument may not be removed, altered, censored, or excluded in any way, shape, or form for any reason.

7. Ten new individuals will be added the 4^th of July every year.

8. Only non-fictional humans may be included.

Here is the list in alphabetical order by last name:

1. Ansel Adams (1902-1984), Photographer

      Adams was gifted landscape photographer who kindled interest in the outdoors and environmental movement.

2. John Adams (1735-1826), Founding Father, US President

      Adams was crucial in the development of nearly every aspect of the start of the United States.

3. Samuel Adams (1722-1802), Founding Father, Governor of Massachusetts

      Adams was an early advocate of American Independence.

4. Susan B Anthony (1820-1906), Civil Rights Leader

      Anthony campaigned tirelessly for women’s rights, especially the right to vote.

5. Louie Armstrong (1901-1971), Musician

      Armstrong was one of the greatest and most prolific musicians of the 20^th century, especially in the blues and jazz genres.

6. Lucille Ball (1911-1989), Actress

      Ball was the great television star and a comedian of endless brilliance.

7. Phineas Taylor “P.T.” Barnum (1810-1891), Showman

      Barnum ran the first great circus and was hugely influential in the entertainment industry.

8. Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922), Inventor

      Bell invented the first telephone, revolutionizing communication.

9. Marlon Brando (1924-2004), Actor

      Brando brought method acting to mainstream Hollywood

10. William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), Congressman, Orator

      Though not especially successful, Bryan brought untold energy to the political process and brought light to struggles of common Americans.

11. William Buckley Jr. (1925-2008), Television Commentator

      Buckley brought intelligence and civil discourse to television.

12. Frank Capra (1897-1993), Film Director

      Capra’s films and life encapsulated the American mythos.

13. Johnny Carson (1925-2005), Television Personality

      Without question, he was the king of late-night television

14. George Washington Carver (1860-1943), Agricultural Scientist

      Carver was not only a great scientist, but he created a space for minorities in the scientific community.

15. Roberto Clemente (1934-1972), Professional Baseball Player, Humanitarian

      Clemente was a fantastic ball player who used his celebrity to bring aid to Central American countries torn by war.

16. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), Explorer

      Columbus’ bravery and creativity lead to the Age of Discovery.

17. The Corps of Discovery (1803-1806), Explorers

      These 52 men and women, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, made the first trans-continental, round trip journey of the United States.

18. Davy Crockett (1786-1836), Congressman, Frontiersman

      Crockett was a symbol of Western optimism and patriot valor.

     

19. Walter Cronkite (1916-2009), Television News Anchor

      He was, with good reason, the most trusted man in America.

20. Bette Davis (1908-1989), Actress

      Davis brought class, glamor, and talent to Hollywood’s Golden Age.

21. Walt Disney (1901-1966), Animator, Businessman

      Disney essentially created the American animation industry and one the most influential worldwide corporations.

22. Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), Abolitionist

      Douglass was a self-educated slave who lead his fellows to freedom.

23. St. Catherine Drexel (1858-1955), Catholic Sister

      Drexel gave nearly her entire fortunate away to create a support system for minorities and the poor.

24. Amelia Earhart (1897-1937), Aviator

      Earhart represented the spirit of adventure and led women to, literally, new heights.

25. Thomas Edison (1847-1931), Inventor

      Edison not only invented the light bulb but found to integrate inventions into daily life.

26. Dwight D. Eisenhower, (1890-1969), US President, WWII General

      Eisenhower lead the Allied forces to victory in WWII and, as president, created the nation’s highway system.

27. Henry Ford (1863-1947), Industrialist

      Ford revolutionized mass production, making goods and services less expensive and more accessible.

28. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), Founding Father, Inventor

      Franklin played a key role in the creation of the United States while creating dozens of inventions and services.

29. Theodore “Dr. Suess” Geisel (1904-1991), Writer, Illustrator

      Geisel introduced generations of children to reading.

30. Samuel Gompers (1850-1924), Labor Union Leader

      Gompers introduced collective bargaining and started the modern labor movement.

31. Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), Union General, US President

      Grant led the Union to victory.

32. Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), Novelist

      Hemingway was a journalist and writer of incredible ability, as well as leading a rather insane life.

33. Jim Henson (1936-1990), Puppeteer

      Henson created the Muppets and other classic children’s programming.

34. Katherine Hepburn (1907-2003), Actress

      Four-time Oscar winner Hepburn was a classic and brilliant actress.

35. Hinmatóowyalahtq̓it “Chief Joseph” (1840-1904), Native American Chief, Humanitarian

      Joseph bravely fought for his people and brought dignity to Native Americans everywhere.

36. Herbert Hoover (1874-1964), Humanitarian, US President

      Hoover is often blamed, falsely, for the Depression, forgetting that he almost singly handedly stopped a famine in Russia.

37. Bob Hope (1903-2003), Actor

      Hope was a talented comedian, famous for performing for free to US military overseas.

38. Harry Houdini (1874-1926), Magician

      Houdini made magic a mainstream entertainment.

39. Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), US President

      Jackson made the United States a world power.

40. Michael Jackson (1959-2009), Musician

      Jackson basically invented pop music.

41. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), Founding Father, US President

      Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.

42. John F. Kennedy (1915-1963), US President

      Kennedy brought glamor to the White House and led us through the Cuban Missile Crisis.

43. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), Baptist Minister, Civil Rights Leader

      King helped lead the 1960s civil rights movement.

44. Jack Kirby (1917-1994), Comic Book Illustrator

      Kirby created the look and feel of nearly every Marvel character.

45. Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), Confederate General

      Lee was a brilliant general, who, even in defeat, was widely admired.

46. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1869, US President)

      Lincoln led this country through the Civil War.

47. James Madison (1751-1836), Founding Father, US President

      Madison wrote the Constitution.

48. George Marshall (1880-1959), WWII General, Humanitarian

      Marshall helped Europe quickly recover from WWII.

49. John Marshall (1755-1835), Founding Father, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

      Marshall made the Supreme Court an independent and valuable part of the US government.

50. Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962), Actress

      Monroe remains the single greatest actress of her time.

51. John Muir (1838-1914), Naturalist

      Muir’s vision created the National Park System

52. Thomas Nast (1840-1902), Illustrator

      Nast streamlined the political cartoon genre and created the modern version of Santa.

53. Richard Nixon (1913-1994), US President

      Nixon opened doors to China and the Soviet Union.

54. Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964), Novelist

      O’Connor created stories of humor and pathos with a distinct Southern voice.

55. Jesse Owens (1913-1980), Track and Field Athlete

      Owens famously dominated track events at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, undermining Hitler’s philosophy.

56. Thomas Paine (1737-1809), Founding Father, Journalist

      Paine’s Common Sense brought the notion of independence to the common man.

57. Rosa Parks (1913-2005), Civil Rights Leader

      Parks’ refusal to give in to racism spark the 60s civil rights movement.

58. George S. Patton (1885-1945), WWII General

      Patton helped win WWII and brought a distinct American flavor to military rhetoric.

59. Gregory Peck (1916-2003), Actor

      Peck was a talented actor and promoter of civil rights.

60. William Penn (1644-1718), Colonist, Politician

      Penn’s Charter of Pennsylvania was the blueprint for the Constitution.

61. Edwin Porter (1870-1941), Film Director

      Porter brought storytelling to the invention of moving pictures.

62. Elvis Presley (1935-1977), Musician

      Presley was the king of Rock and Roll.

63. Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), US President, Actor

      Reagan brought economic success to the US and helped end the Soviet Union.

64. Jackie Robinson (1919-1972), Professional Baseball Player, Activist

      Robinson, by simply playing great ball, opened the door to minority athletes.

65. John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), Industrialist

      Rockefeller, the world’s first billionaire, made oil and trains accessible to the masses.

66. Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), Painter

      Rockwell illustrated classic American life.

67. Rev. Fred Rogers (1928-2003), Childhood Educator, Television Personality

      Rogers was a pioneer of children’s television, advocate for emotional intelligence, and the best neighbor ever.

68. Richard Rogers (1902-1979) and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960), Composers

      Rogers and Hammerstein were the architects of the modern musical.

69. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), US President

      Roosevelt led the country to victory against the Great Depression and WWII.

70. Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), US President

      Roosevelt created the modern presidency and brought the conservation movement to government.

71. George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. (1895-1946), Professional Baseball Player

      Ruth was probably the most “American” athlete of all time.

72. Carl Sagan (1934-1996), Science Advocate

      Sagan tickled our curiosity and encourage to look to the stars.

73. Jonas Salk (1914-1995), Medical Researcher

      Salk invented the polio vaccine and saved millions of children worldwide.

74. Charles M. Schultz (1922-2000), Cartoonist

      Schultz created the Peanuts strip, which ran for fifty years and launched a franchise.

75. Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979), Catholic Bishop, Televangelist

      Sheen was probably the greatest American missionary of the 20^th century.

76. St. Junipero Sierra (1713-1784), Catholic Missionary

      Sierra brought Christianity and Western Civilization to California.

77. Frank Sinatra (1915-1998), Singer, Actor

      Sinatra was the most prominent American singer for decades.

78. Joseph Smith Jr (1805-1844), Religious Founder

      Smith founded the Mormon movement, the most successful American bred religion.

79. Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902), Civil Rights Leader

      Stanton worked tirelessly for women’s suffrage and other important social causes.

80. Jimmy Stewart (1908-1997), Actor

      Stewart was one of the most prominent actors of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

81. Louis Sullivan (1865-1924), Architect

      Sullivan designed the system that allowed for the skyscraper, changing city dynamics forever.

82. Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), Inventor

      Tesla was superior to Edison in his skill but not quite the marketeer. Nevertheless, his AC circuit and use of radio waves changed the landscape of human history forever.

83. Jim Thorpe (1887-1953), Professional Athlete

      Thorpe played a variety of professional sports but is best known as a promoter of American Football and first president of the NFL.

84. Tisquantum “Squanto” (1585-1622), Diplomat

      Squanto’s linguistic and diplomatic skills were essential to survival of the first English colonists.

85. Ven. Augustus Tolton (1854-1897), Catholic Priest

      Tolton was the first African American priest and lead a thriving parish in Chicago despite frequent racism and difficulties.

86. Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), US President

      Truman brought WWII to its conclusion and safely guided the United States into the 1950s.

87. Harriet Tubman (1822-1913), Abolitionist

      Tubman rescued countless slaves and continued to work for their welfare after the Civil War.

88. Mark Twain (1835-1910), Writer

      Twain was a master of American storytelling and humor.

     

89. Sam Walton (1918-1992), Businessman

      Walton not only created Wal-Mart but introduced the consumer to the “Superstore.”

90. Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Artist

      Warhol fused mainstream pop and great art.

91. Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), Businessman, Civil Rights Leader

      Washington encouraged black businesses around the country and showed that they could enter the mainstream middle class.

92. George Washington (1732-1799) Founding Father, 1st US President

      Truly the Father of the Nation.

93. John Wayne (1907-1979), Actor

      Wayne gave the West its greatest presentation on the screen.

94. Walt Whitman (1819-1892), Poet

      Whitman recorded in prose the spirit of the 19^th century.

95. Eli Whitney (1765-1825), Inventor

      Whitney changed the course of US history with his inventions. Twice.

96. Bill Wilson (1895-1971) and Dr. Bob Smith (1879-1950), Addiction Recovery Advocates

      The founders of Alcoholics Anonymous not only saved countless souls from addiction but brought the idea of addiction as an illness to the medical community.

97. Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), US President

      Wilson brought the US into the 20^th century and lead our country successful through WWI.

98. John Winthrop (1587-1649), Colonist, Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony

      Winthrop gave the budding nation many of its important values, especially its concept as a “light on a hill.”

99. Orville (1871-1948) and Wilbur (1867-1912) Wright, Inventors

      The Wright Brothers invented the airplane, fulfilling a long humanity’s long held dream of flying.

100. Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), Architect

      Wright was probably America’s most famous architect for both beauty and skill.