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On September 11, 2001 American Airlines flight 77 was deliberately crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. Retired Air Force Colonel Mike Kelly was in a staff meeting when the plane struck the other side of the building. The crash penetrated three rings of offices and its load of jet fuel exploded in a deadly fire that took several days to extinguish. The 64 passengers in the plane were killed and an additional 125 people on the ground lost their lives. Colonel Kelly didn’t not hear the crash but smelled the jet fuel and heard the fire alarms. He reviewed the events of the day and profiled heroic actions taken by people on the four hijacked flights and personnel on the ground. Some 4,000 aircraft had to be landed immediately and there was considerable confusion about the extent of the attacks. He described emotional phone calls with with family member to tell them he was safe. The 9/11 crashes marked a pivotal point in our history. Colonel Kelly had a 34 year career as a ballistic missile expert and arms negotiator and is a veteran of the Gulf War.

Ten students from Southwest Middle School presented their Future Cities project on April 15. Students work on a year long class to design a city for a national competition in Washington D.C. Teacher, Danielle Baker, and engineering consultant, Chris Storm, provided guidance and resources through the year for the student team. They chose the city Rio de Janeiro and the problem of food insecurity for their project. The competition required an essay, a city narrative, construction of a model, a computer design and a live presentation to the judges. Considerable planning was required, as well as research, budgeting and construction. Their efforts earned an award for project management. Students enjoyed their time in Washington and enjoyed the work, sharing interests and making friends

Shannon Hodges is the Curator of Education and Community Events at Watkins Museum of History and her job is to make engaging with the museum a fun learning experience for youth. She is responsible for conducting field trips, tours and outreach. Most third graders in the community tour the museum and visits may be targeted to specific interests. This includes visits to historical sites like Grover Barn, the Miller Homestead and Oak Hill Cemetery. A course is offered on the operation of the museum and participants learn about working with primary and secondary sources. A classroom learning collaborative provides an opportunity for hands on learning with the construction of dioramas and other projects. Shannon also works with a student advisory group of 8th-12th graders.

Retired Air Force Colonel Mike Kelly spoke on behalf of the Kaupan Memorial Committee, a group working to raise funds to place a statue of Korean War Chaplain Emil Kaupan in the Kansas State House. Emil grew up in the small Czech farming community of Pilsen, Kansas. He experienced an early calling to the priesthood and served as a Chaplain in Burma and India at the end of World War II. He asked to serve in the Korean War an landed in Pusan with the Eighth Cavalry. He ministered to men under fire as his division fought their way north. He was captured in Unsan in November 1950. He saved a wounded sargent and carried him on his back sixty miles to a prison camp. Under terrible conditions the Chaplain provided comfort and inspiration to his fellow prisoners. Chaplin Kaupan died in the camp in May of 1951, leaving a legacy of courage and service. He is the most decorated Chaplain in the service and was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013.