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What’s in a name? A lot actually, despite the fact that Shakespeare thinks it doesn’t really matter According to the Bard, all you need to know is what something is, not what it’s named To a certain extent he might be right maybe it doesn’t matter what a rose is called but when it comes to many public buildings, highways and tollways, streets, colleges, libraries and parks, the opportunity to “designate” or give credit to an outstanding public servant, a selfless individual or a generous benefactor presents itself and it is a precious chance to honor and perpetuate their distinguished legacy.

Currently, a petition drive seeks to honor a most worthy woman and its success would accomplish two things, for sure: giving her the credit she truly deserves and naming a local public building for an amazing woman, which rarely ever happens. Without even knowing the whole story, I think most of you would be agreeable to signing the petition on those two facts alone because when I tell you her name there’s a good chance you might not have heard of her. After all, most people, when quizzed on the streets for late night comedy shows, can’t even name the first President of the United States, the three branches of government or a country on a map. So how likely is it that you are familiar with the story and the impact of Virginia Moe?

Thanks to a friend and author, Jane Morocco, together with Arcadia Publishing, Virginia Moe’s life’s work became a paperback in 2015. Moe first visited Trailside Museum at Chicago Avenue and Thatcher Avenue in River Forest in 1932; the Museum had just opened its doors within the historic 1876 mansion for the purpose of educating the public about the plants and animals in Cook County Within just a few years, Moe had become the Museum’s curator, living upstairs at the Museum for 52 years and on-call 24/7, never once taking a vacation Her dedication was etched in the mind of Morocco long before it was written on paper; at the age of 12, Morocco began working alongside Moe at the Museum as a volunteer and for the next 10 years, she would experience first-hand Moe’s compassion, determination and genuinely altruistic character.

Despite all that, the Museum was named for the late County Board member Harold “Hal” Tyrell shortly after his sudden death in 1990; and, as if she had never lived at all, Moe got an honorary street sign. Now, there is a second chance to make things right. A commission within the Cook County Forest Preserve District is presently working on the criteria for proposed renaming of Forest Preserve District sites. The petition, launched by Morocco, can be easily found on www.change.org then, in the search box, type Virginia Moe. To date, it has rallied over 600 signatures, including mine. “What Moe was to the Museum and to the community will never again be replicated,” said Morocco. “There’ll never be another like her I don’t want people to forget about her and that there was a place like that, once upon a time, Morocco told Chronicle Media recently

The poet Emily Dickinson wrote: “If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain.” A passionate, tireless public servant and human being, Virginia Moe cared for and rehabilitated thousands of “fainting robins,” injured and orphaned animals each year while, at the same time, inspiring countless children over five decades through her talks with them at the Museum. Consider signing the petition, neighbors. Her name on that building matters.