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.