Notes:
Data source is the 1990 book, "Moomaw-Mumma-Mumaw-Mumaugh Genealogy" compiled by Robert Austin Moomaw (deceased).
Hippie Memorial Dedication Speech Marker
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Even after thirty years of marriage to Bob Moomaw, I was always surprised by his ideas--and this event is another surprise. Bob said there have been sculptures built on more ridiculous concepts than my life--this is not ridiculous--this is my life: a Hell of a mess. Why a memorial to hippies? He said they changed our society for the good. Because of them, he didn't have to conform anymore. the sculpture represents his life--mounted atop a wall. Made of iron rods, junk parts and crafted metal.
The short portion on the left is the first 26 years of his life: which included the depression, World War II, the "RED" scare and the hypocrisies of the 1950's. He said it was like living in a coal mine with a 3 ft. ceiling; The tallest man he ever met was 3 ft. tall. Society forced people to stoop.
The memorial rises to 6 ft. representing the 1960's to the 1980's when the hippies hit and raised the ceiling off everything! Everyone got up to stand up against oppression and repression Bob said it was like growing up! They broke free from small town morality during the "Kennedy Camelot” and the "Hippie Movement". The metal shapes are
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brightly colored, showing love and peace symbol and -- individuality!
In 1980 Reagan necked society down into small-mind-ed-ness again.
The crossbars are the "webs of his life". As his life passed through time, other peoples junk stuck to him and made him what he was--the product of leftovers from a previous existence. He said he never got to determine a thing in life; it was determined for him. Bob said, he left the pieces raw--so they would rust--the way life is--junk collecting rust is all life is.
Was Bob Moomaw a hippie? NO. He did have a beard and a pony tail while attending the university. He was THERE at the same TIME & PLACE as the hippies were, but he was raising his children then, to use the freedom of THEIR minds to search for knowledge in education as he did. As he said, "to his shame, he was no hippie"!
Hippies, he said, gave us room to BREATHE: and that is what aspect of their existence he was honoring. Bob would greatly enjoy this celebration of his life sculpture--thank you all for joining in our dedication of his work: MOOMAW--AMERICA'S--ONE & ONLY HIPPIE MEMORIAL!
Sherron Moomaw
June 29,1999
Location. 39° 41.122' N, 88° 18.494' W. Marker is in Arcola, Illinois, in Douglas County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of North Oak Street and East Jefferson Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Arcola IL 61910, United States of America.