approval for the memorial was not quickly forthcoming. a memorial committee was established by the order of spanish war nurses, chaired by miss esther hasson of new york. but by november 1901, the secretary of war elihu root had not yet given approval for the memorial. fundraising, too, was going slowly, and only $265.63 ($ in dollars) was in the order's memorial fund. the order received word that the army had set aside a site near the western corner of what is now section 21 for the memorial in late 1902. but this decision was not a formal one. in the late summer of 1903, however, dr. mcgee received assurance from secretary of war root and quartermaster general humphrey that the order could erect a memorial in section 21. however, general humphrey requested that order erect a simple, artistic monument rather than anything elaborate.