October 2, 2009
**For Immediate Release”
Civil War Day will be held at the Museum of the Kansas National Guard, 6700 South Topeka Blvd (main entrance of Forbes Field) on Sat., Oct. 10. Civil War troops will show what life was like during the Civil War through encampments, demonstrations and discussions. All events are free and open to the public, and will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Saturday kicks off with a pancake feed from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations will be accepted.
A symposium on the Kansas Indian Wars (1868-1972) is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Museum theater. Discussions will be led by Carl Nelson, retired Kansas Guardsmen, and will address the history of the famous “dog soldiers.”
The Lecompton Re-enactors will give a presentation on the path to Kansas statehood at 1 p.m.
Featured re-enactors will be the 2nd Colorado and McClain’s Independent Artillery Battery. Demonstrations on Civil War medicine, blacksmithing and a Civil War Sanitary Commission will be ongoing during the day. General Ulysses Grant (Randy Durbin) will be present beginning at 11:30 a.m. “The 34th Star,” a story of the struggle for Kansas statehood, will be shown during the day.
The Museum features 80 displays inside and 25 major equipment exhibits outside including five helicopters, two airplanes, five artillery pieces, three tanks, and a variety of trucks and other equipment.
Admission to the Museum of the Kansas National Guard is free. The Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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