Monowi, a Nebraska town with just one resident, has been chosen as the site of a national school gun violence memorial.
The One In Five Foundation For Kids, a nonprofit formed in response to the school shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, in May 2022, announced Tuesday that Monowi had been chosen as one of 15 locations to host memorials.
Monowi was selected by the nonprofit's national board and received over 18,000 national poll nominations, according to a press release.
The memorials will pay tribute to the students who have been killed in school shootings since Columbine, the release said.
The nonprofit's founder and director Daniel Chapin noted in a statement that some people say Monowi "makes no sense" as a memorial site due to its size and rural location. Monowi sits in Boyd County, which itself has fewer than 2,000 residents.
However, Chapin said the selection shows the culture of violence threatening youth extends to communities large and small.
"The county and Monowi itself sit in the heart and direct geographic center of this nation," Chapin said. "As such, we cannot think of a better location to truly memorialize those lost in the tragedy of school gun violence across this country than Monowi."
The nonprofit said it has reached out to the town's mayor and sole resident, Elsie Eiler, regarding the memorial and hopes to also receive input from other Boyd County residents.
The nonprofit will work with local officials in each of the communities selected to determine where to build the memorial and select artists and contributors, according to the release.
The story of Eiler and Monowi can offer an example of resilency and dedication, Chapin said.
"Elsie has kept the smallest city in America alive," he said. "One person, no matter where, can make a difference."
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The One In Five Foundation For Kids, a nonprofit formed in response to the school shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, in May 2022, announced Tuesday that Monowi had been chosen as one of 15 locations to host memorials.
Monowi was selected by the nonprofit's national board and received over 18,000 national poll nominations, according to a press release.
The memorials will pay tribute to the students who have been killed in school shootings since Columbine, the release said.
The nonprofit's founder and director Daniel Chapin noted in a statement that some people say Monowi "makes no sense" as a memorial site due to its size and rural location. Monowi sits in Boyd County, which itself has fewer than 2,000 residents.
However, Chapin said the selection shows the culture of violence threatening youth extends to communities large and small.
"The county and Monowi itself sit in the heart and direct geographic center of this nation," Chapin said. "As such, we cannot think of a better location to truly memorialize those lost in the tragedy of school gun violence across this country than Monowi."
The nonprofit said it has reached out to the town's mayor and sole resident, Elsie Eiler, regarding the memorial and hopes to also receive input from other Boyd County residents.
The nonprofit will work with local officials in each of the communities selected to determine where to build the memorial and select artists and contributors, according to the release.
The story of Eiler and Monowi can offer an example of resilency and dedication, Chapin said.
"Elsie has kept the smallest city in America alive," he said. "One person, no matter where, can make a difference."
Monowi, Nebraska, population 1, chosen for site of national school gun violence memorial
Monowi, the Nebraska town with just one resident, has been chosen as the site of a national school gun violence memorial.
