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Archiver > SUVCW > 2008-04 > 1209482660


From: "Hayes, Dann" <>
Subject: [SUVCW] We still have lots of work to do
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:24:20 -0400


As a managing editor of a couple newspapers in Iowa, I venture to say that
there is a lot of ignorance on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line.

The basic notion is to blame the school system or something. I tend to blame
society as a whole < the family unit. For the most part, people (families)
do not honor veterans on Memorial Day. They take the day off and have a BBQ
or go on a picnic or something. Parents can¹t teach their children what they
don¹t know, themselves.

There is an item going over the net (email) that some of you might have
seen. It¹s about kids of today vs. kids of 20 or more years ago. Basically,
it states that when we were kids we survived riding in cars (station wagons)
without seat belts, didn¹t wear helmets when riding bikes, and actually
played outside and, when playing games, we played board games and interacted
with other folks.

There is some truth to that.

I am involved in a living history event in Iowa we call Camp Grinnell. The
8th grade kids go through seven stations on the Civil War. I don¹t think our
goal is to teach the kids history. I think our goal is to show them that
history can be interesting and that learning can be fun. It¹s almost a shame
that we have to do this, but it works to some extent.

I venture to guess that when they become young adults and start having
children of their own, some of the things they learned at Camp Grinnell will
come back. They¹ll remember eating hardtack and maybe they¹ll look up a
recipe to help their kids make some at home.

Most of the blame, if any can be placed, should go to a life cycle of sorts.
Folks are moving to the cities. At least in my experience, I find that folks
living in rural Iowa are much more patriotic, more willing to learn, and,
basically, take the time to know their neighbor. I find less of that in
cities. In fact, at Camp Grinnell, we will have some schools from the Des
Moines area coming for the first time this year.

I don¹t think it is lack of wanting to learn, folks just need the chance. We
in the SUV can do that. With the CW Sesquicentennial on the way, this gives
us a prime opportunity to make inroads into the schools. But I would warn to
not expect anything to change, much. We can¹t be the teachers. But we can
assist and we can show that history can be fun.

Just my two cents worth.

Dann Hayes
Commander
Sgt. N.F. Bates Camp No. 64
Malcom, Iowa




On 4/28/08 6:24 PM, "" <> wrote:

>
>
> I think there is more to it than playing hardball with the generally
> ignorant (to include some politicians). This interview was in the South and,
> quite
> honestly, misperceptions, generated by certain groups, have been allowed to
> thrive here over the years. Granted, not everyone down here thinks that way,
> but considering the counterfactual perpetuation of "the myth," it's no wonder
> that some have conveniently forgotten the facts (or chose to ignore them in
> the first place) behind Memorial Day in this direction. Quite honestly, it's
> time to "reclaim the field," and the coming Sesquicentennial lends the
> perfect
> platform to set the record straight. We can't afford to miss the opportunity.
>
> Robert Moore
> PI, Maryland Dept, SUVCW
> CC, Camp #1881
>
>
>
> In a message dated 4/28/2008 11:44:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> writes:
>
> Thank you, thank you for the observation on this matter.
>
> This is exactly what our committee has been running into.
> And a person who is in the media, who apparently went to school for
> journalism, and they have no idea what's going on in this country.
>
> I would be more than happy to send her correspondence on Memorial Day, and
> the "numbers" and the lack of knowledge that a great deal of our citizens
> have in this regard. Please send me her name, address etc.
>
> I think it's about time we started playing hardball with the ignorant and
> that includes our politicians in Washington, after all this is an election
> year.
>
> In F. C. & L.
>
> Al Peterson
> David Merchant
> Committee to Restore Memorial Day back to May 30th
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
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