Week 35 in Mr. Bruce's History

Parents and Students,

Angela Spraul and her daughter Ava, 4, sit at the grave of her
 husband, John Spraul, U.S. Navy, on Memorial Day at
 Arlington National Cemetery on May 25, 2015, in Arlington,
 Virginia. Photo: Gabriella Demczuk via Getty Images
courtesy of Huffington Post

Today we begin the weekend that typically marks the unofficial beginning of summer. It is a weekend that for many means camping, family gatherings, parades, bonfires, and other things that we've been waiting all winter and spring to do. Yet for thousands of wives, husbands, sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, and friends, Memorial Day means something more significant. Memorial Day must remind us of more than a day off. We must remember those who, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, "gave their last full measure of devotion." As you go about your activities, take time to let the real meaning of Memorial Day occupy your time, thoughts, and prayers. If you're unsure yet what that is, let this photo set from Huffington Post help.

That phrase is one of the most memorable of Gettysburg Address. His speech marked the commemoration of the Battlefield at Gettysburg, PA, where the largest battle of the Civil War took place. One of our activities this week was to deconstruct the Gettysburg Address to understand how Lincoln looked forward at the unfinished business of the Civil War - particularly the repairing of the Union in a way that honors those who sacrificed for the same. Talk with your student about Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: ask them to share the gems we discovered between the lines of the address.

We also started looking at the period that follows the Civil War - this time called Reconstruction. Lincoln never had a chance to put into effect his plans alluded to at the inauguration of his second term. Lincoln ended his very brief second Inaugural Address with:

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

We end the school year striving to understand how, in his absence, Reconstruction failed to create such a peace, but rather resulted in one that established a century of racial discrimination, prejudice, and segregation that was supported by government of all levels: local, state, and federal.

I'd like to inform you all of the only opportunity I offer for anything related to "Extra Credit." It requires some work following Civil War Days of Branch County. If you are unaware, at Heritage Park in Coldwater, hundreds of actors, presenters, and reenactors spend a whole weekend bring this era back to life. I have provided their complete schedule and a description of expectations for receiving credit in the linked document: Civil War Days 2016 Extra Credit Opportunity. Strongly recommended for some.

Finally, let me remind you all of the email I sent yesterday. Next Friday we will be welcoming Kenneth Davis. Please talk about this over the weekend. Seats are still available. For more, see the Kenneth Davis Announcement.

Today we ended our school week with our Third Annual Staff vs. Student game and fundraiser. Our Student Council organized and facilitated a great event that contributed significant proceeds to Tommy's House. Tommy's House is a transitional house for women. The establishment of a transition house will give these women a safe, structured environment for learning skills enabling them to get a new start as a clean, sober, employable woman. Tommy's House will be a 24 hour supervised home which will include rehabilitation programs so that a woman can complete three levels before being released. These levels will provide spiritual guidance, personal counseling, a 12 step program, job skills and practical life skills, i.e. personal hygiene. Take a look below at a few pics of the event taken by our own Mrs. Knaack and student Emma Barve. What a great time!