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Hi Bob,
I just wanted to share with you what a great class Sharon Longobardi and Jason Briggs ran at Frontier High school this past weekend. They had so many great activities and brought a wealth of resources with them. They made it very easy to find ideas and adapt them to any classroom. Sharon and Jason's enthusiasm was contagious and teachers attending the class were really excited to implement ideas in their classrooms. Many people commented that it's been a long time since they have taken a class that was so informative and FUN. The fifteen hours flew by. I'm not sure everyone at the class realized how many hours of prep time and physical labor that went
into planning and carrying out that class, not to mention the 8 hour drive they made across the state to get here. They certainly made huge sacrifices to do this, and I am so grateful. They went above and beyond what was necessary and made it an incredible experience for everyone. It's really too bad that you weren't able to stop by. We set up a mini colonial camp on the school grounds, did calligraphy and
tin-smithing, and on Sunday morning loaded and fired muskets, (off school grounds, of course) . I was able to secure permission through Janet Plarr to use Firemen's Park in the Village of Blasdell. That had to be the highlight. We were outside for over an hour in 35 degree weather, but no one complained.
At the end of the class, Sharon and Jason asked for honest feedback on how they could improve the class. There was not one suggestion, we really could not think of a single example of how to improve it, it was THAT good. You really should think about bringing them back for more classes.

Take Care,

Joe and Barbara,

Thank you so much for getting our Civil War coat order squared away! Your work and support of our Living History Program at Somers Middle School and in the world of fields of education in NYS and beyond has been invaluable so that the men and women who toiled, suffered and died to make this country great might "live in the hearts of everyone who cares to remember"!

As I write this my class is finishing the viewing of the Movie Glory following our Civil War encampment and drill on the front grounds of the Somers Middle School. Our students have experienced much following the "out break of war" - the sweet aroma of smoked pork and coffee, to the snap of the Colors flapping in the breeze to the bark of the Sgt. in drill on the field. They have heard the words of Jeff Shaara describe how as a little boy his life was changed forever when his dad walked him across the field of Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg and of his present dedication to preserve Hallowed Ground and donate proceeds from his book on Civil War Battlefields to that cause. As the bombs fly from Ft. Wagner, inscribed on the board are the words - "...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

From a documentary on the 54th following Glory, they will lean of their casualties in the field and see photos of the original men and see reenactors of the 54th re-interring men whose graves were accidentally disturbed - firing a 21 gun salute as we pause in a moment of silent meditation... They will hear my experience this past weekend of scrubbing the head-stones of the "Poughkeepzie Boys" of Company D of Duryee's 5th NYers at the Rural Cemetery. They will see Gods and Generals, Gettysburg and "meet" a member of the 146, 5th, 68th and 69th NY and shoulder the musket in full dress on a forced march after taking an oath and signing enlistment papers.

We will march the field in full dress carrying the "Colors of the Fighting 69th Irish Brigade" - thanks to a gift of $220 from the Student Council. On 27 May we will stand together our SMS Living History Day to close the chapter on Living History for the 2010 campaign - almost - the chapter will be be finally closed after we march in the Somers Memorial Day Parade on the 31 May and finally along the Freedom Trail in Boston on June 5th.

From your work in the Living History Education Foundation - the mission is being accomplished in the field of schools!

Thanks to you Joe and Barbara and all who support LHEF!

Huzzah,
Bill Wienecke

Thanks from the Upper Nyack Elementary School