Memorial Day Musings

Memorial Day could not have been more beautiful: Gary & I in our lawn chairs, under a shade tree, the American flag flying over veterans in a place that is loved and valued. There were many visitors who had never been to the cemetery before and kids who were interested in learning history. Was I in my element!

The local Sons of Union Veterans and Boyscouts had placed the flags and we hadn't been there long when one of the members of the SCV Camp, Jerry Reiman, showed up in period clothing with his drum. He played between the graves of Civil War veterans. It was beautiful.

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On May 12, I had the opportunity to speak at Mine Creek Battlefield, Pleasonton, Kansas. Adrian Zink is the new site administrator and he is wonderful! Plus, he does a mean impersonation of Arnold Schofield, the previous director!

There was a great crowd--lots of people and lots of enthusiasm for the subject. I was thrilled to speak in this wonderful site and here I am, standing in front of Andy Thomas's wonderful painting of this battle, the second largest cavalry engagement of the war.

Just a couple of weeks before, we had the great pleasure of leading a bus tour for Washburn University's History Department. Mine Creek was one of our tour sites and some of the students walked the soggy trail. We visited Fort Scott's Civil War Days where our old friend, Greg Higginbotham, below, demonstrated firearms and drilled the Holmes Brigade. It was great!

We visited the John Brown Cabin in Osawatomie (below), where site administrator Grady Atwater gave a great tour. We had a wonderful visit and it was great for the students to see all kinds of people passionate about history. One of those passionate folks who dedicate so much time and energy to history is John Mackie, with Gary and me below. Kudos, John, Greg, and all those dedicated reenactors who sweat and work to educate the rest of us!

Stories in Stone

We thought all the copies of my book, Stories in Stone, were gone, but Gary found another box. This is a sharing of some of the fascinating folks in Topeka Cemetery. They are $10 each. I'll try to find the time to put up a Paypal button; in the meantime, just send me an email at debbisel@yahoo.com and I'll meet you at the coffee shop to transact business!

Better yet, schedule a tour! The weather will be great this week. The cost is $10 for a two-hour walking tour of the oldest chartered cemetery in Kansas. If you can find at least 5 people, we'll set up a time.

The induction ceremony for the Kansas Hall of Fame is getting closer. Get your tickets for the gala and go by the Great Overland Station for a fantastic exhibit. The 2012 laureates are: Ed Asner, Nancy Kassebaum Baker, Alf Landon, George Washington Carver, William Allen White, Cyrus K. Holliday and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

It was a challenge to find the National Archives in Kansas City last night; 400 Pershing Road is tucked behind another building next to the Union Station. We actually stopped at the IRS gates and the nice young guard came over and helped us.

 Once inside, we were amazed at the facility. I can hardly wait to go back and research. Kimberlee Ried, programs specialist and one gorgeous redhead, welcomed me at the door She was the ultimate professional and had done a great job of promoting this event and folks just kept pouring in. There was a capacity crowd (spilling into the hallway) and lots of books sold. The best part was seeing old friends, especially those from the Kansas City Civil War Roundtable.

On the way back home, we stopped at the Russell Stover store at Legends. There was a sale -- 75% off seasonal candy, which included lots of the sugar-free or lo-carb variety. We got a sack full with our ice cream Noel got the no-sugar added Dutch Chocolate; I had the no-sugar added butter pecan in a waffle cone; Gary had the banana pudding ice cream. We sat out on the porch of the store and just enjoyed the early evening.

It was a good day.

The next talk and booksigning is May 31st, at the Ritchie House, 6:30 p.m., Civil War Roundtable of Eastern Kansas. Free and open to the public. The Hale Ritchie House is located at 1118 SE Madison, Topeka. Email me for details.

April Showers Bring May Booksignings!

It's always a fact that the more you have to write about, the less time you have to write about it. Saturday, Adrian Zink hosted a wonderful event at the Mine Creek Battlefield, SHS, Pleasanton, Kansas. Lots of folks came from some distance to attend, and my old and dear friend, Arnold Schofield, manage to make it back from Topeka just in time to answer the hard questions people asked. We made lots of new friends and sold lots of books.

Since we were a ways from home and Ottawa was sort of on the way back, we stopped in to see Gary's cousins who have a thriving dairy farm. They're milking 200 plus cows right now, some mighty healthy Holsteins. It's quite the operation with computerized analysis of the butterfat in the milk right as it comes from the source on the cow carousel.

It was a beautiful drive.

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Last weekend, the Shawnee County Historical Society held its first Attic Sale, something we hope will become an annual fundraiser. We partnered with the Topeka Antiques Association and Findables (benefitting Midland Care) and got some awesome donations and some had a wonderful event. Dave Chuber was our celebrity auctioneer and musicians -- Stuart Yoho, Tom O'Brien and Chris Frost played some fine music. A lot of hard work went into this event and special thanks to fellow board members Jeanne Mithen and Martie Rison, member Mark Tyree, future member Beth Cooper Meyer. Chris Schultz and Joan Wagnon made excellent money changers, and Bill Wagnon, of course, was his usual indispensible self. Doug Wallace pushed bulletins. My daughter Noel helped out with refreshment sales. Allen Shirrell was a huge help moving things (as was Martie's husband and the entire Clabaugh family, as well as Jerrie Conklin and her mate, Damon). Allen was extremely helpful in storing a buggy donated to the society by Rick Taylor, son of the Rev. Richard Taylor who was instrumental in our obtaining the John Ritchie House.

Gary & I bought some cool stuff including a signed Stan Herd poster and a trike for Bubba.

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We have a hectic week coming up. The Kansas Hall of Fame induction ceremony is rapidly approaching (June 15) and there remains much to be done. On Tuesday night, I'm speaking and signing books at the National Archives in Kansas City. The reception starts at 6:30, I believe.
Graduations and parties -- Miss Maddy Tennant is graduating from Leavenworth High School and will become an Ichabod!! So tickled she'll be close by!

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Mother's Day and Noel got me two of the sweetest cards -- one from her and one from the boys. Talked with Karen and Lulu in Israel. Karen says my trip to London in November will have to do for a lot of special occasions this year. . . :)