This memorial was erected in 1938 by the Finnish Nation and the Finns in America in commemoration of the Finnish pioneers of the first permanent settlement in the Delaware River Valley in 1638.

Minnesota's participation in the event was in the hands of a state-wide committee, headed by Alex Kyyhkynen, chairman, Aino Vartiainen, secretary; Rudolf Raattama, treasurer, and the following members from communities throughout the state: A. W. Havela, Arthur Lampe, A. A. Toivonen, Urpo Kytö, Gene Saari, Mrs. T. J. Raymond, John Ketola, Dr. John Räihälä, Milma Lappala, Eino Saranen, V. K. Kuusisto, Mrs. Selma Ala, Felix Nylund, Herman Kortesoja, Jacob Hill, Donald Virtanen, C. W. Tamminen, Walter Gomsi, Frank Mattson, Mrs. Gust Tuura, George Sahlman, John Hendrickson, Toivo Tervonen, Wayne Oja, Aaro Ruuska, George Käkelä, Ivar Otava, Mrs. Victor Vanhala, Matt Viitala, Dr. Thompson, Arthur Forselius, Mrs. Anna Leino, T. Ahola, Jacob L. Pete, Arne Halonen, V. Luttio, Carl Södergren, Leo L. Knuti, Theo. Pensas, John Rintala, Adolph Lundquist, Mr. Hannula, John Väänänen, Victor Taipale, Mike Salminen, Mr. Komulainen, Mr. Laine, Emil Hill, Isaac Lamppa, J. A. Mattinen, Alexis Esko, Jack Korpi, Mrs. Anthony Smolish, John Elo and Hugo Knuti. The Superintendent of Schools for St. Louis County, Mr. Arthur Lampe, gave valuable assistance to the officials of the committee and to the activity of the Minnesota committee in general.

To gather funds for the expenses of the festivities, concerts and program evenings were held in the following communities Duluth, Virginia, New York Mills, Nashwauk, Esko, Hibbing, Alavus, Chisholm, Menahga, Ely, Mt. Iron, Cloquet, Markham, Floodwood, Minneapolis, Suomi, Cokato, Lakewood and Alango. A total of $2,667 was collected, a sum bigger than that produced by any other state.

On 10 July 1938, a special Delaware program was held at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Duluth, with Finnish representatives to the Delaware festivities as speakers : Artturi Leinonen and Vihtori Vesterinen, who also visited other communities in the state. Meanwhile, the Governor of Minnesota, Elmer Benson, who was personally interested in this commemoration, had appointed the Reverend Carl Tamminen, Editor Adolph Lundquist, and Arthur Lampe to represent the Finns of Minnesota at the Delaware River Valley celebration. However, although there was considerable and important sponsorship for this event, there was also some dissatisfaction voiced: the Industrialisti (11 May 1938) regretted that the Governor had altogether ignored Finnish workers in his appointment of official representatives, the cooperative circles felt

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