SPIRIT OF FREEDOM HONOREES AT LAFAYETTE COUNTY JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

 

WE SALUTE OUR SPIRIT OF FREEDOM HONOREES!! 

We are hosting the 2013 Spirit of Freedom honors to area African Americans who were the first to graduate from the Lafayette County, MO high schools that had finally integrated in 1956.  Come hear their personal stories at the Friday Night Fish Fry, June 14, 2013 from 5pm to 8pm at the Community building, Fairground Park in Higginsville, MO.  Herman Gant is the moderator assisting the honorees to share their stories.  Trivia and music is also part of the evening's activities. Fish fillet dinners will be sold for a $10 donation as a fund raiser for the Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation which is a non-profit organization under 501C3.

SPIRIT OF FREEDOM HONOREES  CLASS OF 1956

HIGGINSVILLE HIGH: TRAVIS BENTON, JAMES CALBERT (deceased) , REVEREND WILBUR CONWAY, MYRLON EDWARDS, EDWARD HAYNES

FREDRICK SMITH.


LEXINGTON HIGH: JAMES BOLTON (deceased) , SOPHIA BOLTON HAYNES (deceased) , JOHN L. SLAUGHTER (deceased) , ROBERT LEE SMITH, NINA MILLER DIXON.



ODESSA HIGH SCHOOL: ZELMA WEST RICHARDSON


We ask that others from the Higginsville High School , Lexington High, and Odessa High Schools Class of 1956 and those who were in the younger grades attend this ceremony and be in support of their class members. Also, the families of the deceased graduates are being contacted to stand in for their loved ones.



Special recognition and honors will be presented to the graduates by the superintendents of the representative high schools and other dignitaries. The honorees will be given presentations on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at the opening ceremony at the Ed Schwitisky 4-H building, Fairground Park, in Higginsville MO.


Being on the other side of history, we now recognize the historical significance of this past hour. We are forever grateful for all communities who helped to make the transitions in our county smooth and safe for all students.


Let it also be known that in Lafayette County, MO “Juneteenth Matters to Us!”



RITTER TO PRESENT ON FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH AT LAFAYETTE COUNTY JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

Marcia Ritter grew up on the century family farm north of Higginsville. She graduated from Lafayette County C-I High in 1971 and then earned her teaching degree from UCM. Marcia taught Family & Consumer Sciences students in Lee's Summit for 30 years and was honored in 1995 as Missouri Teacher of the Year. After retiring from teaching, Marcia began taking classes and reading books on genealogy and helped to plan the Ritter and Thee and Knipmeyer family reunions. Her family history research was highlighted by a backpacking trip through Germany a few years ago. She even stayed at Hotel Ritter in Heidelberg!!! Marcia will be sharing research tips, family reunion planning ideas, and family tree displays. "My ancestors were farmers in Germany and then began farming in Warren County, Missouri before moving to Lafayette County. I take pride in my family legacy, tenacity, and strength."


She'll be doing a presentation from 2:15 to 3:00 pm “Making Family History Come to Life.” Marcia will be sharing genealogy research tips, family reunion planning ideas, and family tree displays.

2013 LAFAYETTE COUNTY, MO JUNETEENTH EXHIBITS & PRESENTERS

2013 Lafayette County Juneteenth Celebration

EXHIBITS/PRESENTERS

Lafayette County Juneteenth Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at the Fairground Park in Higginsville, MO from 10 am to 6 pm. This is a free family-oriented event that has been held annually since 2005. The Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation announces its schedule of presentations and exhibitors. The 4-H building is the location for exhibits and presentations. Times are tentative. Exhibits are open at 10 am to 4pm.

12:45 pm to 1:30 pm Old Time Vintage Gospel Ramona Moore, vocals and piano,; Linda Smith, vocals; Jill Sutherland, vocals,;Reverend Dean Clemmer, pastor of the Slater Assembly of God Church; guitar, and Chuck Howard, harmonica.

1:30 to 2:15 pm Preston Washington, president of the Midwest Afro-American Genealogical Interest Coalition (M.A.G.I.C. He is presenting about his Afro-Native American Indian heritage, emancipation in Indian territory and genealogy resources and tips

215 to 3:00 pm – Marcia Ritter – “Making Family History Come to Life.” Marcia will be sharing genealogy research tips, family reunion planning ideas, and family tree displays

Exhibitors

“Lincoln University”

In 1866, veterans of the 62^nd and 65^th United States Colored Troops founded Lincoln Institute in Jefferson City, Mo. This exhibit covers the history of the school from 1866 to 1991.

Inherently Unequal: Segregated Education in Central Missouri”

This exhibit discusses the obstacles placed in the paths of countless of the state’s citizens for nearly a century. It reminds us, also, of the dignity and diligence with which African Americans sought to educate themselves, even in this system of “inherently unequal” schools. Both exhibits are on loan from the Missouri State Museum

Black Inventions – Geraldyne Williams

Rebecca Bradley, Missouri Veterans Commission’s Minority Veterans CoordinatorMidwest Afro-American Genealogical Interest Coalition (M.A.G.I.C.

Pennytown Freewill Baptist Church - Virginia Huston

Missouri Conservation Department

Lafayette County Health Department

Lafayette County, MO African American Influence

Ham radios group – Jack Green

Lafayette County Health Department

CERT – Rodney Kirchkoff

University of Missouri Extension

P.A.S.S. - Providing Academic Support for Success

Ronald Cole Black Memorabilia

Mount Muncie Cemetery

Pleasant Grove settlement

William “Dugan” Pollard Display

PRESTON WASHINGTON, RESEARCHER, PRESENTING AT LAFAYETTE COUNTY JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

PRESTON WASHINGTON

Preston is a life long resident of Kansas City, Mo. He is a retired police officer (1980), probation-parole officer (1991), and drug/alcohol counselor (2012). Preston is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Missouri State Genealogical Association. He is president of the Midwest Afro-American Genealogy Interest Coalition (M.A.G.I.C.).

Preston’s research specialty centers around the freedmen of the five civilized tribes (Cherokee, Choctaw, Muscogee-Creek, Chickasaw, and Seminole nations). Freedmen were ex-slaves held in bondage by the Five Civilized Tribes.

Preston’s research efforts resulted in his mother’s election to the Daughters of the American Revolution.

He is presenting on Saturday, June 15, 2013 from 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm.

NEW CHILDREN'S EVENT AT LAFAYETTE COUNTY JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

Children's carnival games will be a special first time event at the Lafayette County Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 15, 2013 t the Fairground Park, Higginsville, MO. All games are free and the children are going to get prizes, too. Games are designed for safety and fun for the children.

The games will be conducted by Martha (Wegener) Williams who had over twenty-five years as a Girls Scout leader. The games will start tentatively at 12:30 pm at the close of the opening ceremony. The Children's carnival game area will be located adjacent to the gazebo area.

This event includes the following games: octopus ring toss, sucker tree, buried treasure, frog pond, ring toss for drinks, duck pond, cookie walk, softball toss, bean bag game, disc throw, yard dart game.

We ask that parents accompany and assist your children.

We are needing volunteers to set up the games on Saturday at 9 am and other volunteers to work with booth. If you can help, contact Martha Williams at 660-238-9266.

2013 INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER: REVEREND WILBUR L. CONWAY

Wilbur has traveled throughout the United States and foreign countries preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He and his wife, Corinne, have been married for fifty-five years with six beautiful children and seven grandchildren.

Wilbur graduated from Higginsville High in Higginsville, Missouri in 1956. After which he joined the U.S. Navy. He stayed with the Navy for eleven years until he medically retired after losing an eye. Wilbur attended and graduated from San Diego City College with an Associate of Arts Degree in Political Science. From there he moved on to San Diego University and attended the university for three years. He had switched his focus and his major in political science was not the center of attention any more.

His new direction, inspired by his Christian faith, led him to CH Mason Bible College. It didn’t take him long to become an ordained minister and an author. He still does a lot of traveling and is often called upon to speak at conferences and seminars.

Reverend Wilbur Conway founded Jesus Evangelist Team In Service (JET-IS) in 1981 to minister and assist men in prison and during the transitional period of parole. He served as a Chaplain for the state of Missouri since 2004 and been involved in prison ministry for over 30 years.

As a gradute of Higginsville High School, class of 1956, he is one of other classmates who will be honored at the Lafayette County Juneteenth Celebration.  This particular class was the first one to graduate African Americans during the town's school integration period.  He is one of the "Spirit of Freedom honorees.

Reverend Conway is also credited with being one of three persons who were instrumental in the "founding" of the first Lafayette County, Missouri Juneteenth celebration in 2005.

www.VisitMO.com

DON'T MISS THIS GREAT JAZZ SAXOPHONIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SPIRIT OF FREEDOM HONOREES

Lafayette County Juneteenth Opening Ceremony (follows drill team performances )
Fairground Park, Higginsville, MO   Saturday, June 15, 2013.11:30am.


 African Americans who graduated from the Classes of 1956 were the first people to attend schools that were integrated.


They had spent three years at another school, and their senior year was spent at their new high school. Most of them previously had attended the Douglas High School in Lexington, MO, the school that African Americans attended.
These graduates are truly "trailblazers" and this was indeed an historical moment in time.

Our theme for Juneteenth again is "Freedom For All." This year these graduates will be honored for being trailbrazers and demonstrating the "Spirit of Freedom. They represent the Higginsville, Lexington, Odessa, and Wellington High Schools. We are inthe process of contacting the graduates. Some are deceased and we will ask their families to stand in for them.

The opening ceremony will be following the performances of the drill teams.

CLASS OF 1956 -

 THE GRADUATES

HIGGINSVILLE HIGH - TRAVIS BENTON, JAMES CALBERT, REV. WILBUR CONWAY, MYRLON EDWARDS, EDWARD HAYNES, FRED SMITH
LEXINGTON HIGH - JAMES BOLTON, SOPHIA BOLTON HAYNES, JOHN L. SLAUGHTER, ROBERT LEE SMITH, NINA MILLER DICKSON

ODESSA HIGH - ZELMA WEST RICHARDSON
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2013 LAFAYETTE COUNTY JUNETEETH IS Saturday, June 15th.

The Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation has announced the Juneteenth Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2013.  The free, family-oriented event will be held at the Fairground Park in Higginsville, MO.  The event will go from 10 am to 6pm.  The annual parade starts at 10 am downtown in Higginsville and goes to the park.  Immediately following the  parade,there will be an opening ceremony.  The event will have vendors, educational displays, live entertainment, and more. There are park shelter that can assist you in bringing a large group and having your own space for the whole day!  Contact Arron Haynes for more info on this.

For more information about vendors, or doing an educational display, or entertainment, contact chariperson, Arron Haynes at 816-419-3704.  Visit us on facebook, Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation.  See you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scenes from last year event!  It rocked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11