Hello brothers and sisters,
I am writing you as a member of the Mother Jones Museum events committee in Mt. Olive Illinois. United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts will be laying wreaths at the graves of the legendary Irish born labor agitator Mother Jones, stellar former UMWA Secretary Treasurer John Banovic and Sam Yukovitch, an immigrant coal miner who enlisted in WWI and died at the second battle of the Argonne in 1918, all of whom are in Union Miners’ Cemetery in Mt. Olive IL. The event, April 28 at 11AM, is to celebrate May 1, Mother Jones’s selected birthday. This cemetery is the only union owned one in the USA. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvtUyGil9-I
Brother Roberts will move to the Mother Jones Museum. He is well known for his fiery and inspirational speeches. It is a thrill to hear and witness him. Music, additional speeches, tours of the museum and other events are planned. Our expected expenses will total $2125. Here is a partial list and estimated cost:
3 nice wreaths $75 each, 1 floral arrangement for Brother Banovic’s widow, Marylyn at $50, 2 welcome banners at $75 each, live band $150, 3 tents delivery and setup ($150 each), chair use delivery and set up donation ($50), 2 sound system use plus setup rental $175, professional video recording $450, advertisement poster printing $100, St. Louis/Southern Illinois Labor Tribune advertisement $100 and free ham and beans miner meal $225.
Your donation will insure a proper welcome and coordinated event to recognize the legacy of two great past labor leaders, a contemporary one and a heroic miner-soldier.
The Mother Jones Museum is now part of the city of Mt. Olive and not part of the Heritage Project. Donations may be sent to: Mother Jones Museum, Mt. Olive City Hall, 200 E Main St, Mt Olive, IL 62069. Checks will be made out to the city with the note/tagline stating it is for the 2018 May Day event. Donations are tax deductible. If we are blessed and have any excess donations, they will be used to support MJ Museum related activities. If you can support this effort by another means, thanks in advance and please contact us.
To contact us and for further information, please contact our chairperson. Her name and email address: Joann Condellone <jcondellone@gmail.com>
No matter what, please spread the word. Nearby lodging may be found in Litchfield and Staunton. Come witness this historic event.
In the Spirit of Mother Jones,
James Goltz, retired UA Local #553 member
Friends of Mother Jones
