What Did You Do This Summer?

 



The typical question that most people get when going "back to school" is, "What did you do this summer?"  Instead of writing an essay...here is my Top 5 US History related Summer List.

5. I read several books...mainly focusing on American Imperialism.

 

4. I visited every Civil War monument in North Dakota...there are only 4!

 

Civil War Monument-Devils Lake, ND 







 3. I explored my German-Russian roots (and cemeteries) in western North Dakota.

 

 German-Russian Wrought Iron Cross

 

2. I visited the Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile National Historic Site near Cooperstown, North Dakota...here is a photo of Oscar-Zero Missile Alert Facility.

 

Oscar-Zero 

 

And a photo (50 feet underground) of the Launch Control Center.

 







1. I found one of my 4th great-grandmothers (she lived from 1814-1876) near Nerstrand, Minnesota...her headstone was buried (no pun intended) under about 6 inches of sod and dirt!

 





 

 







50th Anniversary: The March on Washington



Today marks the 5oth anniversary of The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.  Fifty years after Dr. Martin Luther King's famous "I Have A Dream" speech (many other great speeches, musical performances, etc.) and other events of that remarkable day!  There is a lot of discussion about the impact of the Civil Rights Movement and how much of Dr. King's dream and the demands of the movement have been fulfilled...

A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin

 



After Dr. King spoke, the lead organizers of the event, A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, read their demands of lawmakers to the crowd.  Looking at the demands (posted below) fifty years later, it is interesting to ponder how far we have truly progressed, was the movement a success, have we accepted less than the dream, etc. 

 



Oh, how I wish I was there today...