Archive for May, 2009

Lawton Educators At a GW Workshop

Last Monday was Memorial Day, a day established to remember those who lost their lives in the service of our country. This patriotic holiday reminded me of a recent trip I made to Lawton to do a workshop for teachers and also an email I received from Don Clapsaddle.
Lawton is best known for its connection to Fort Sill, an active Army installation with the field artillery school. General Washington would have enjoyed visiting this military reservation that was staked out on January 8, 1869 by Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan. Its first Indian agent was Colonel Albert Gallatin Boone, grandson of Daniel Boone. Daniel Boone was actually with General Braddock (and Washington) during the famous battle in the French and Indian War in which Washington had two horses shot from under him and four bullet holes pierced his clothing (and he still saved the remnants of Braddock’s battered troops). George Washington was a fighter who never gave up during the long Revolutionary War; so he would have appreciated Fort Sill’s most famous guest under “house arrest”, Geronimo. Geronimo is the legendary Apache who fought long and hard to maintain his tribes’ independence. Geronimo died at Fort Sill in 1909 of pneumonia. *
Don Clapsaddle is Chief of Staff of the Department of Oklahoma Military Order of the Purple Heart. The award was first given by General George Washington at Newburgh, New York on August 7, 1782 during the Revolutionary War to recognize distinction for meritorious action. The Purple Heart is currently awarded in the name of the President of the United States to members of the U.S. military who have been wounded or killed in action. According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization for combat-wounded veterans, the medal is “the oldest military decoration in the world in present use and the first award made available to a common soldier (Mount Vernon’s Website).” Mr. Clapsaddle explained to me how he discovered the forgotten ashes of a Veteran of the Vietnam War. His name was Private Warren A. Nicholls. The Private was wounded and paralyzed, and spent his life confined to a wheel chair. He died at age 39. Following his death his ashes, along with parts of his uniform, were placed in a footlocker. The old rusted footlocker was eventually sold for $5. When the contents were discovered, Mr. Clapsaddle was notified and he immediately took action. He, along with a local cemetery, constructed a memorial monument that now contains Warren’s ashes. A Memorial Day program related Nicholls’ story and gave this veteran who “slipped through the cracks”, a proper place of rest. The monument is now among the Oklahoma Hero’s, in the Field of Honor. General Washington would be proud.

*Information about Fort Sill came from : http://sill-www.army.mil/pao/pahist.htm

“All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do – that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.”

-First Lady Michelle Obama

As a female who grew up during the women’s movement, I have always admired ladies in the political arena.  Today, I would like to mention two—one from the past and one current political lady who have been obliged to “fight for the world as it should be.”

Elizabeth Willing Powel was George Washington’s favorite female companion during his presidency (excluding Martha).  Mrs. Samuel (Eliza) Powel belonged to Philadelphia’s leading mercantile family.  She was a strong, intelligent female who was not intimidated by Washington, but actually argued with him about governmental policy.  As the end of his first term approached, Washington desired to retire to Mount Vernon.  He told Eliza that a second term was inconceivable (Ellis 220).  Mrs. Powel knew that his leadership and wisdom were still needed if our fledgling nation was to survive.   She wrote a letter to Washington urging him not to resign but to serve a second term.   “She told him his pleasure as well as his duty lay in laboring ‘for prosperity of the people for whose happiness you are responsible, for to you their happiness is entrusted (Flexner 272).’” She continued, “Be assured that a great Deal of the well earned Popularity you are now in Possession of will be torn from you by the Envious and Malignant should you follow the bent of your Inclinations.   You know human Nature too well not to believe that you have Enemies.   Merit & Virtue, when placed on an Eminence, will as certainly attract Envy as the Magnet does the needle.’  In short, his host of admirers included ambitious men whose admiration barely concealed their latent hatred of his greater greatness.  As long as he retained power they would be afraid to show themselves.   But they were lurking in the background, poised to ravage his reputation and render his retirement less serene than he envisioned. (Ellis 220-221).”  Washington served a second term.

Sandy Garrett is Oklahoma’s State Superintendent of Education.  Ms. Garrett is the only woman in our state’s history elected to that office.  She is now serving in her FIFTH consecutive elected term (OSDE Website).  Fifteen years ago Superintendent Garrett stated, “There are rights and there are wrongs in our society and it is time we got busy teaching our children about them.”  (Surely she was envisioning George Washington as a role model when she made this speech!).  Ms. Garrett has been busy in the last few decades trying to improve education in our society.  “She implemented the mandates of Oklahoma’s landmark Education Reform Act of 1990, the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and the state Achieving Classroom Excellence Act of 2005.  The National Institute for Early Education Research recognized Oklahoma as a national model because of Superintendent Garrett‘s development of Pre-Kindergarten programs throughout the state.  Garrett also initiated the nation’s first statewide school safety hot line which has provided to local officials anonymous reports of suspicious or potentially dangerous activity in schools since 1998 (OSDE Website).”  Recently, while attending the Oklahoma A+ Schools Celebration at the Capitol in Oklahoma City,   Martha Washington (Jan) was photographed with our State Superintendent.

“I stand here today at the crosscurrents of that history – knowing that my piece of the American dream is a blessing hard won by those who came before me (First Lady Michelle Obama).”   Although many think that politics is still mainly a man’s domain, both Eliza Powel and Sandy Garrett have proved that women have made a positive impact on the blessings of America.

His Excellency George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis

Washington the Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner

http://sde.state.ok.us/Services/SG/default.html

Although everyone wants to go to Mount Vernon to see our first President’s home, most do not realize people can visit some of Washington’s innovative business enterprises.  Just a short jaunt from the mansion (Approx. 3 miles) is the reproduction of the General’s Gristmill and distillery which are both built on the original foundations.    As you approach the Gristmill you will see a huge waterwheel—just like the one that was attached to Sleeping Beauty’s (aka Briar Rose) cottage in Disney’s film version of the fairy tale.   As a young girl I dreamed of having that perfect little cozy lodge in the forest—little did I know that no one could have slept near one of those waterwheels.  It is LOUD!  I think it is also a MUST SEE at Mount Vernon. 

One of the earliest U.S. patents was for Oliver Evans’ mechanized Gristmill.  President Washington signed this third U.S. patent and was so impressed with the design, he immediately requested that one be built at Mount Vernon.  The mill is literally “a multi-storied machine with a building around it” (Steve Bashore).  The miller weighs the wheat or corn and then small, conveyor-type buckets carry it upstairs where it is cleaned in large bins.  The grain comes back downstairs from the hoppers through channels leading to the mill stones which grind the grain.  Another conveyor moves the flour/meal up to the top floor and, since the grinding makes it hot, it is cooled by a giant comb-like instrument which also moves it to a center chute that lets the finished product fall into barrels.   These casks were shipped out from Washington’s wharf along the Potomac River.  The whole entire system is run by the waterwheel.  With its many different functions and the need for the teeth in the gears to be precisely calculated, it is fascinating to watch both wheat and corn go through this whole process simultaneously!  Washington’s Gristmill is the only mill in the U.S. with an operating Oliver Evans system and, if you happen to be there on the first weekend of any month, you can see it in operation.  Although Sleeping Beauty could never have really slept in such a mill, I think both tourists and Prince Charming would be fascinated with this early Industrial Revolution machine.                                                                                            P.S.  If by any chance Steve Bashore is there, you will be in for a treat because I think he is the world’s greatest expert on the Oliver Evans’ Mill!                       NOTE:  Next door to the Gristmill is Washington’s distillery.  The General owned the largest whiskey distillery in American which produced nearly 11,000 gallons of rye whiskey in 1799.

Recently Reagan (one of my favorite former students and an avid reader of my Blog) sent me a picture from Roosa Elementary, a school where I visited and presented earlier this year. The photograph showed Reagan with George Washington!  Every year this school’s students have a Living Museum.  Each pupil selects a famous person from the past, researches the historical individual, and then becomes that personality.  Students and parents from across the district are invited to visit the museum.  Each Roosa re-enactor is frozen like a statue on an “upside-down” desk which has ribbons swaging from leg to leg to simulate velour-roped stanchions.  One of the legs has a bright colored dot (one of those sticky kinds) that the observer is supposed to “push” for the animation to begin action.  As the spectator presses the button, the historical visage comes to life to inform the viewer about his or her life and accomplishments.  After recounting their tale, the character returns to his/her motionless position.  Reagan said the George Washington (Corey Brown from Mrs. Burn’s third grade class) was darling (I bet the General would have blushed at that compliment!)!

This creative learning activity made me remember (with longing) the time I spent in the Donald W. Reynolds Educational Center at Mount Vernon.  ATTENTION EVERYONE:   If you are planning to go to Mount Vernon (close to D.C.) this summer do NOT just run through George Washington’s house (which is a MUST SEE).  You NEED to the experience the dynamic educational museum!  It is ENGROSSING, RIVETING, AND GRIPPING!  I have been in the Center at least a dozen times in the past year and I find something new every time!  This is a family-oriented exhibit that is very “hands on” in its approach—made especially for active boys!  Although there are MANY cool areas, my favorites include:

1.                           The Revolutionary War Theater where it snows (a lot) on the audience during the Valley Forge winter—I am still trying to figure at how it disappears when it lands on my hands! 

2.                           The three countenances of Washington that look so real I always think he is going to start talking to me.

3.                           Washington’s false teeth (NOT WOODEN) and his toothbrush-which always make me hesitate to eat candy!

Anyone would love to spend a day (or NIGHT) in this museum!

NOTE:  For the next several weeks I am going to be writing about different venues to see and do during your visit at Mount Vernon.  Airfares are cheap, so everyone load up and head to our First President’s home!