As the French would say, “de trop”*
by chuckofish
Fifty years ago today, the Gateway Arch was “topped off” when the final section was inserted on October 28, 1965.
Hubert Humphrey, V.P. of the U.S., watched the proceedings from a helicopter which hovered nearby. The ceremony had been postponed, so I guess the President was busy.
Today there will be a celebration, but it seems to me, it is being downplayed. Cupcakes will be served.
Anyway, the Gateway Arch (630-foot, 192 m) in Saint Louis is the nation’s tallest monument and has welcomed visitors for fifty years with its iconic, awe-inspiring shape. As envisioned by renowned architect Eero Saarinen, the Arch represents the westward expansion of the United States and typifies “the pioneer spirit of the men and women who won the West, and those of a latter day to strive on other frontiers.”
Pretty cool.
I was in the fourth grade at the time and I honestly have very little memory of the proceedings. Now a project to renovate the arch grounds is underway and will, we hope, be completed by 2017. Stay tuned.
*Cole Porter, You’re the Top
dual personalities 
Awesome!!
Cool. But why are they downplaying the anniversary?
Politically incorrect I guess…
Didn’t we all sign a piece of paper which was put in one of the legs of the Arch?
I remember that a piece of paper was passed around our class. We all signed it and then it was inserted in one of the legs of Arch.
No kidding? I have no memory of that. I was in Mrs. Delaporte’s class–maybe we didn’t do it…Usually it is my short-term memory that fails me!