Tag Archives: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum

Landmark conference to celebrate Betty Ford’s legacy as First Lady

Citizen Journalism, Going Local, Kent County, Local History, Politics, Upcoming Events, Voices, West Michigan, , , , , ,
First Lady Betty Ford (Supplied)



By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


A free conference commemorating the enduring influence of first ladies in American history will be held at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum on Friday, April 26 at 2:15 p.m. Titled “In Celebration of Betty Ford’s 50th Anniversary as First Lady,” the conference will feature a special focus on the remarkable contributions of Betty Ford.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, in partnership with the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) and American University School of Public Affairs, are joining together to host this free public event.

National experts and enlightening conversations

The half-day event is FLARE’s first national conference. It will feature two panels and focus on Betty Ford’s leadership as first lady.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (Supplied)

National experts on First Ladies will include Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President and Betty Ford; Anita McBride, second term chief of staff for Laura Bush; and other celebrated women who have published books on first ladies.

Attendees can expect enlightening conversations about the pivotal roles Betty Ford and other first ladies play in our nation’s history.

A pioneer of First Ladies

“We remember Betty Ford as the pioneer who started the systematic academic study of First Ladies,” said Gleaves Whitney, executive director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. “We are proud to host the 40-year commemoration of a great event that took place right here on the Ford stage in Grand Rapids, Michigan.”

This conference builds upon the legacy of the historic 1984 conference, convened and moderated
by Mrs. Ford herself, which explored the multifaceted responsibilities and impacts of first ladies.

“Hosting the FLARE conference underscores our commitment to fostering collaboration, empowering women’s voices and honoring the lasting legacy of the indomitable Betty Ford,” said Brooke Clement, Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum.


FLARE serves as the primary association to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and outreach among scholars, institutions, first ladies’ staff, biographers, archivists, journalists, and public historians interested in research and education about the lasting legacies of U.S. First Ladies.

“FLARE is honored to host its first national conference with our esteemed partners, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, and American University’s School of Public Affairs,” said FLARE President Nancy Kegan Smith.

“This landmark event brings together an accomplished group of first ladies’ scholars, family, staff and the public to commemorate Betty Ford’s leadership, her groundbreaking conference on first ladies in 1984 and the important contributions of First Ladies.”

A celebration of groundbreaking leadership

The conference will feature national experts, including:

  • Susan Ford Bales, Author and daughter of President Gerald R. and Betty Ford.
  • Diana Carlin, Professor Emerita of St. Louis University. She is co-author of U.S. First Ladies:
    Making History and Leaving Legacies     and Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s
    History-Making Women    .
  • Brooke Clement, Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum.
  • Dr. Stacy Cordery, Professor of History, Iowa State University, Author, and Bibliographer.
  • Myra Gutin, Professor Emerita of Communication at Rider University. She is the author of The
    President’s Partner: The First Lady in the Twentieth Century     and Barbara Bush: Presidential
    Matriarch    .
  • Lisa McCubbin Hill, Journalist and author of Betty Ford: First Lady, Women’s Advocate, Survivor,
    Trailblazer    , and co-author of Mrs. Kennedy and Me; Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with
    Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford    ; and My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy.
  • Alison Jacknowitz, Interim Dean of the School of Public Affairs at American University and
    Professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy.
  • Anita McBride, Executive in Residence at American University, School of Public Affairs and
    Director of the First Ladies Initiative, and second term Chief of Staff to Laura Bush. She is co-author
    of U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies and Remember the First Ladies: The
    Legacies of America’s History-Making Women    .
  • Nancy Kegan Smith, Former Director of the Presidential Materials Division at the National
    Archives and Records Administration. She is co-author of U.S. First Ladies: Making History and
    Leaving Legacies     and Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women.
  • Sheila Rabb Weidenfeld, Mrs. Ford’s Press Secretary, an Emmy-award-winning television
    producer, diplomat, and Chair of the C&O Canal Commission. She is the author of the book, First
    Lady’s Lady    .

*Seating is limited. Registration is open to the public until April 23 or until the event is filled.

Leading expert in race studies to lead special joint Presidential Library program on March 28

2-row, Citizen Journalism, Education, Kent County, Local Business, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , , , , ,
(Left) Cyndi Tied with Dr. David Pilgrim, founder and director of the Jim Crow Museum (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Dr. David Pilgrim (Courtesy, Jim Crow Museum/FSU)

Highly regarded as an expert in race studies, Dr. David Pilgrim will share the mission of the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery at an exclusive Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum and Barack Obama Presidential Library joint event.

“We are honored to welcome Dr. Pilgrim to the Ford Museum as a guest speaker for our first collaborative event with the Barack Obama Presidential Library,” said Brooke Clement, Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and Acting Director of the Barack Obama Presidential Library, in supplied material.

“We are fortunate to have him on-location where he will be able to share his expertise and passion on the history of the African-American experience in America.”

Teaching tolerance with objects of intolerance

Scheduled for Thursday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m., “Using Objects of Intolerance to Teach Tolerance and Promote Social Justice with Dr. David Pilgrim” is open to the public, free, and will be live-streamed through Zoom. It will also be recorded on the Barack Obama Presidential Library YouTube channel for those who wish to attend remotely.

There are many offensive and racist objects still used in society today (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

With a 20,000-piece collection of racist artifacts, the Jim Crow Museum – located on the Ferris State University (FSU) campus – is the nation’s most extensive and accessible collection of artifacts of intolerance.

The museum contextualizes the dreadful impact of Jim Crow laws and customs, and uses objects of intolerance to teach tolerance and promote a more just society. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with Dr. Pilgrim during a question and answer session.

After walking through the “Overcoming Hateful Things” Jim Crow Museum traveling exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) in 2023, Clement knew she wanted to bring Dr. Pilgrim to the Ford Museum.

“The display (at GRPM) was incredibly moving. It’s something that, as a community, it is important for us to take on as a mission – and amplify it. We don’t want to skirt around it,” Clement told WKTV.

When Clement reached out to Dr. Pilgrim, he inquired about her connection to the Obama Library and expressed interest in making the event a collaborative effort.

With the combined historical expertise of both Dr. Pilgrim and Clement, the “Using Objects of Intolerance” event is sure to challenge and enlighten attendees.

Many recognizable songs contain lyrics that are racist in nature (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Learning from the past

Best known as the founder and director of the Jim Crow Museum, Dr. Pilgrim also serves as Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion, and Strategic Initiatives at FSU. In addition, Pilgrim has authored three books: Understanding Jim Crow; Watermelons, Nooses, and Straight Razors; and Haste to Rise (with Franklin Hughes).

Dr. Pilgrim has lectured at dozens of institutions, including Stanford University, the University of Michigan, Smith College, and the University of North Carolina.

Understanding history is vital in shaping an enlightened future (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

With a history teacher for a father, Clement and her sister found themselves shuttled to various historical landmarks and museums throughout her childhood.

“By the time I was in high school, I realized that I really enjoyed learning about our past,” said Clement.

What followed was a Bachelor of Arts in American History and American Culture at the University of Michigan. Clement also holds a Master of Liberal Arts in American Studies at Columbia University in New York.

Having participated in an archival work study at Columbia University’s archives, Clement was offered a position at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor, thus beginning her National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) career.

Clement has worked in senior management and archival positions at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and most recently the Barack Obama Presidential Library.

Historical understanding can bring an enlightened future

Clement is dedicated to providing a clearer understanding of the nation’s history to attendees of the upcoming event.

“I’m hoping audience members are going to be challenged, they’ll be enlightened by the discussion, and that they can walk away from it with a clearer understanding and better sense of our history,” said Clement.

Franklin Hughes (left) talking with David Pilgrim (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)


Clement went on to say that acknowledging the past and learning from it are important. “I would like the Ford Museum to be seen by the community as a place in which we’re willing to have those hard discussions.”

However, growth and understanding should not stop there.

“I feel like we can always do better,” said Clement. “I think there’s always room for improvement in terms of how much we are willing to dive into hard topics, and how much we’re willing to reach out and cross that divide.”

Crossing the divide: Upcoming events

Clement’s determination to reach across that divide is demonstrated by several upcoming Ford Museum events.

“We have Dr. Barbara Savage coming (March 14), and she’s going to be talking about West Michigander Merze Tate [and her] impressive role in the education movement,” said Clement.

During the month of April, the Ford Museum will host a First Ladies Conference as well as an event featuring The New York Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker. The month of August will highlight a new Ford Museum exhibit.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is celebrating 50 years! (Supplied)


“We’re also heavily planning for 50th anniversary programming,” said Clement. “It’s the 50th anniversary of [President Ford’s] swearing in, so we will definitely be highlighting that.”

Clement went on to say that the mission of the Presidential Library system is more than just general history.

“We get opportunities like this to tell not only the history of the President, the First Lady, and the Presidency in general, but also to reach out and do historical analysis of things like what Dr. Pilgrim is bringing to us,” said Clement.

Learn more!

Check out these resource links:

Barack Obama Presidential Library

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum

National Archives

Jim Crow Museum

Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute to commemorate 22nd anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks

Citizen Journalism, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , ,
The annual Sept. 11 Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute will take place at six Michigan locations

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org

The Sept. 11  Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute will be commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

This event has been held from sunrise to sunset on the plaza at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (GRFPM) since Sept. 11, 2002.

In addition to the GRFPM location, the Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute will include activities at the Albion Legion Post 55, the Muskegon USS Silversides Submarine Museum and the USS LST 393 World War II landing ship, the Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department, at the USS Edson located at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum in Bay City, and the Walter Sundquist Pavilion at Riley Park in Farmington.

Those who cannot make it to the activities scheduled around the state of Michigan can participate by sharing photos of themselves saluting or by viewing the activities at the Michigan Cross Roads Council BSA Facebook page.

Those unable to make the scheduled activities can still participate by sharing photos of themselves saluting the American flag (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)

Events Schedule

GRAND RAPIDS: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

All events will be held outside. Those wishing to visit the museum must purchase tickets in advance at www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov.

  • For the 22nd year, the community is invited to join the Michigan Crossroads Council, Boy Scouts of America as they lead the West Michigan community in a day-long “Scout Salute” at the GRFPM to pay respect to all those who died during the terrorist attacks.
  • At sunrise and sunset honor guards from the Grand Rapids Police and Fire Departments will lower and raise the flag outside of the museum to commemorate the opening (7:18 a.m.) and closing (8 p.m.) of day’s events.
  • The Scout Salute will begin at the opening at 7:18 a.m.
  • At 7:50 a.m. retired Firefighter Ken Chudy will share events of the day.
  • GRFD will ring the bell at 8:46 a.m. for the South Tower.
  • GRFD will ring the bell at 9:03 a.m. for the North Tower.
  • GRFD will ring the bell at 9:37 a.m. for the Pentagon.
  • GRFD will ring the bell at 10:03 a.m. for United Airline Flight 9.
  • At 5:30 p.m. the Salvation Army Band will perform.
  • At 6 p.m. there will be a program featuring speakers Grand Rapids Police Chief Erick Winstrom, Grand Rapids Fire Chief Dr. Brad Brown, and Salvation Army Major Tim Meyer.
  • The final salute will take place at 7:59 p.m. with Echo Taps closing the event at sundown (8 p.m.).

ALBION:

  • At American Legion Post 55 in Albion activities will run from 4:30-6p.m.
  • A short program will be held during which Scouts and members of the public are welcome to salute the flag at the Legion post.

MUSKEGON:

  • At the USS Silversides a salute will coincide with Patriot Day activities from 4-5:30 p.m. At 4p.m. there will be a flyover, and at 5:30 p.m. the engine of the Silversides will be started to pay tribute to lives lost on Sept. 11.
  • At the USS LST 393 a program and salute will run from 6-8 p.m. with remarks being made by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel at 6:30 p.m. 

TRAVERSE CITY:

  • At the Grand Traverse Metro Fire Station, a ceremony will begin with the Fire Honor Guard and Boy Scouts lowering flags to half-staff at 8:30 a.m. and will continue with Scouts and community members saluting the flag until 9 a.m.

BAY CITY:

  • In Bay City, Scouts and the public are invited to honor those who died during the attacks of Sept. 11 at the USS Edson located at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum beginning at 4 p.m. with a service starting at 5p.m.

FARMINGTON:

  • Scouts and community members are encouraged to join activities sponsored by the Groves-Walker American Legion in Farmington. The event will be from 2:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Walter Sundquist Pavilion at Riley Park in Downtown Farmington Center. During the ceremony, Officer of the Year honors will be presented to police officers, public safety officers and firefighters from Farmington and Farmington Hills.

Various activities from all locations will be live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/MichiganCrossroadsCouncil.

School News Network: Area students can enter Gerald R. Ford Essay Challenge

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, ,

Budding student writers are invited to consider the traits of the 38th president of the United States and enter the President Gerald R. Ford Student Essay Challenge.

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum is a proud sponsor of SNN
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum is a proud sponsor of SNN

Each year, the  Gerald R. Ford Foundationchallenges students to reflect on an important part of Ford’s character. High school students nationwide are invited to participate in the contest. Finalists are chosen and recognized at a special awards program at the Gerald R. Ford Museum.

The writing prompt for the 2019 Essay Challenge is:

“I have always believed that most people are mostly good, most of the time. I have never mistaken moderation for weakness, nor civility for surrender. As far as I’m concerned, there are no enemies in politics — just temporary opponents who might vote with you on the next Roll Call.” ~President Gerald R. Ford

Essays should be 500-750 words, sharing thoughts about civility.  Some ideas include: What does civility mean to you? How might we create a sense of civility in both our social circles and our government? Have you had an experience where, through civility, people were able to find common ground? Is there someone you admire for their sense of civility?

Students from Michigan are eligible to receive the following awards:

  • First Place: $1,000 (plus a $500 gift card for student’s teacher)
  • Second Place: $750 (plus a $250 gift card for student’s teacher)
  • Third Place: $500 (plus a $100  gift card for student’s teacher)
  • Up to seven Honorable Mentions: $250 each


One $500 award will be given to a submitting student living outside of Michigan.

Last year’s first-place winner was Aneeqa Hasan of Forest Hills Central.

Students can submit essays via an online submission form, or send them to Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, c/o Clare Shubert, 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. Entries must be received by March 11, 2019.

For more information, contact: Clare Shubert at csshubert@38foundation.org or (616) 254-0409.

For more local school news, visit the School News Network website.

Hauenstein Center to host debate on constitutional interpretation

3-bottom, ,

The rules of American democracy and governance are controlled by the Constitution — a document that contains fewer than 8,000 words and is 230 years old. The Constitution’s concise nature, along with the unlimited appetite for change in the United States, has created an ongoing debate over the fundamental principles that the document represents and what its authors intended it to mean more than two centuries ago.

 

In honor of Constitution Day, Grand Valley State University’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies will host a debate on constitutional interpretation.

 

Debating the Constitution

 

Thursday, September 14, at 7 p.m.

 

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids

 

Free and open to the public

 

Registration requested at hauensteincenter.org/rsvp

 

The event is presented in partnership with the Koeze Business Ethics Initiative, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum.

 

The debate will be between Nathan Goetting from Adrian College and John McGinnis from Northwestern University. Victoria Vuletich from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School will moderate.

 

McGinnis is the George C. Dix Professor in Constitutional Law at Northwestern University and he has served in the U.S. Department of Justice. He is a past winner of the Paul Bator Award given by the Federalist Society, and has clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School where he served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review.

 

Goetting is the editor-in-chief of the National Lawyers Guild Review and an associate professor of criminal justice and jurisprudence at Adrian College. He writes and teaches in the areas of constitutional law, civil liberties and critical legal studies. Goetting has taught at several law schools and his writings have been included in Harvard Law & Policy Review, Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice, and the University of Colorado Law Review, among other scholarly publications.

 

Vuletich joined the Cooley faculty in 2008 after working with the State Bar of Michigan since 1999. She is an expert in legal ethics and was recently the guest lecturer at Hertford College, Oxford University.

 

For more information, visit hauensteincenter.org/

Reaching for the great beyond might lead to the next big thing according to Senator Peters

3-bottom, , , , , , , ,

“SPACE: A Journey of our Future” at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum through May 29.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

So what does the Black & Decker Dustbuster vacuum have to do with the exploration of space?

 

It actually has to do with drilling. Black & Decker was tasked with creating a self-contained drill capable of extracting core samples for the Apollo program. The company later would use the drill’s computer program to develop the cordless miniature vacuum cleaner.

 

It this type of “spin-off” technology that the space program has on everyday life, said U.S. Senator Gary Peters, who made a stop in Grand Rapids to celebrate the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum’s current exhibit “SPACE: A Journey of our Future,” which runs through May 29.

 

Check out a piece of the moon in the “SPACE: A Journey of our Future.”

“We know that when we invest in science, we will get a higher return for taxpayers,” Peters said.

 

And as the Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Space, that higher return is something Peters and the Subcommittee are banking on with the mission to Mars.

 

“Similar of what you think about President Kennedy — I am sure you have studied this in that President Kennedy made the claim that we would get to the moon by the end of the decade and really set this goal, this bar of which everyone one was trying to achieve,” Peters said to a group of high school students during a lecture at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.

 

“The same thing is happening to the Mars mission in it is in the process of moving forward.”

 

While the Mission to Mars is still about 15 years away — the target year is 2030 — the work toward making that happen has lead to innovation not only through out the United States, but right in Michigan, Peters said, adding that several Michigan companies are involved in developing technology and even constructing the SLS rocket that will carry the astronauts to Mars.

 

In the “SPACE: A Journey to Our Future,” there is an up-close look at NASA’s new Constellation Program with a model of the Ares I launch vehicle and the Orion crew capsule, which is planned to be used in in the Mission to Mars. Other highlights of the traveling exhibit including a Lunar Habitat, where visitors can experience what it would be like to live and work on the Moon, a look at the Hubble telescope, an illustrated timeline 0f NASA’s 50 years of space exploration, and the multimedia 360-degree “Future Theatre.”

 

Peters discussed some of these items in the lecture such as it being a costly venture to have people living on the moon, but that NASA is looking to use the moon as sort of a laboratory by pulling an astroid into the moon’s atmosphere so as to be able to study it and its components.

 

Learn how to pack for a trip into space.

“It is believed that astroids that slammed into the earth brought the basic building blocks for life,” Peters said, adding it is exciting to be able to study those “seeds of life.”

 

The Hubble Space Telescope has served the United States well bringing incredible images, but soon the James Webb Space Telescope — scheduled to be launched in 2018 — will study the phases in history of the universe. “It is said that if the James Webb telescope was on earth, pointing to the moon, it would be able read the heat signature of a single bubble bee…that’s how powerful it is,” Peters said.

 

All of these advancements lead to new technology such as autonomous or self driving cars, which could impact space programs on a variety of levels, Peters said.

 

“We do not know what the next big thing is,” Peters said as he talked about research and advancements. “We know that if we continue to invest in the basic chemistry, basic biology, basic physics, that kind of basics that are being done in our research universities, of which Michigan has several in Grand Rapids and throughout, that it will lead to the next big thing that will transform life as we know it know.”

 

“SPACE: The Journey to Our Future,” which explores the past, present and future of space exploration, is at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW, through May 29.

2016 was a record year for Grand Rapids Area Convention and Tourism Business

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, , , , ,

The reopening of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum with new interactive exhibits is one reason tourism is up in 2016.

Experience Grand Rapids (EXGR), the area’s official destination marketing organization, has announced that 2016 was another record-breaking year for area hotel room revenue. From 2015 to 2016 hotel business increased 8.7 percent exceeding growth for both Michigan’s and the United States’ hotel room revenue gains of 4.8 percent and 6.8 percent respectively.
“For the seventh consecutive year Kent County hotel room revenue has grown over the prior year,” said Doug Small, President and CEO of Experience Grand Rapids. “Hotel room revenue is a key metric for measuring tourism activity because it is affected by leisure tourism, strong convention attendance, the area’s growing business economy, and the increasing number of sports related events.”

 

 

Thanks to the efforts of EXGR’s partners at the West Michigan Sports Commission, the Grand Rapids area has grown as a sport destination. Among more than 80 events on the calendar; 2017 brings USA Cycling’s Fat Bike Nationals in January (a first for Michigan), the 2017 International Softball Congress Men’s World Tournament and PDGA Masters World Championships in August (both new to Grand Rapids), and the USA Weightlifting American Open Series in September.

 

 

Grand Rapids’ overall growth as a leisure destination is effected by the rise of the music scene, the continuously expanding craft beer scene, and updates to popular attractions. In 2016, Van Andel Arena had one of its strongest lineups to date with Garth Brooks’ record for most tickets sold for a single engagement and Paul McCartney’s record for gross ticket sales for a single event. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum also re-opened in 2016 with a new interactive exhibit and expansion for education.

 

“Grand Rapids continues to gain in popularity as a travel destination,” said Janet Korn, Senior Vice President, Experience Grand Rapids. “Allocates like the ‘New York Times: 52 Places to go in 2016’ combined with effective destination marketing led by Experience Grand Rapids focused on the brand assets of art and culture, food and craft beer, family friendly and more recently music and outdoor recreation work in tandem to inspire travel to the area.”

 

The seven-month exhibit of Ai Weiwei’s at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park is giving 2017 a good start in tourism numbers. (Supplied)

Further growth can be attributed to outstanding arts and culture exhibits like the Iris van Herpen: Transforming Fashion exhibit at Grand Rapids Art Museum which welcomed over 23,000 attendees and ranks it as the sixth most visited exhibit based on average visitors per day, record numbers by the West Michigan Sports Commission, and Gerald R. Ford International Airport set a four-year passenger record in 2016 with a passenger number total of 2,653,630.

 

Furthermore, the visitor experience remains a focus. The Grand Rapids Certified Tourism Ambassador  (CTA) program, which educates people about the importance of tourism in the community, has trained more than 2,890 individuals and touched more than 540 businesses since it started in August 2013. New marketing programs are also being implemented, such as shuttles to ArtPrize for suburban hotel visitors. Following the first-year success, EXGR will again offer this as a hotel guest service during the weekends throughout ArtPrize.

 

Looking ahead, Small said that Experience Grand Rapids will be considering the suggestions made in the Destination Asset Study commissioned by Grand Action.
“The forecast for 2017 is “sunny” because of exciting cultural exhibits coming to Kent County including a seven-month exhibition of Ai Weiwei at Frederik Meijer Gardens, sporting events like the National Congress of State Games, and significant conventions such as Grand Aerie Fraternal Order of Eagles, Church of the Brethren and National Environmental Health Association. Combining with our increasing popularity as a cool city due to events such as ArtPrize, GRandJazzFest, and LaughFest and culinary, craft beer, and outdoor activities.”

The actions of four World War II heroes remembered at Ford Museum event

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, , ,

The Four Chaplains: Alexander D. Goode, George L. Fox, Clark V. Poling, and John P. Washington

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

The story of four chaplains who went down with their ship has served as an inspiration for Wyoming resident Harriet Sturim, so much so that for the past several years she has been part of the Grand Rapids’ American Legion Post 459’s annual memorial of the World War II heroes.

 

“We do it because we want to keep the story of these four chaplains alive, because each time you here their story, you learn something from it,” Sturim said.

 

It is the story of Father John P. Washington, Reformed Church Rev. Clark V. Poling, Rabbi Alexander D Goode and Methodist Rev. George L. Fox and their actions on a on cold Feb. 3 day in 1943. These actions have been so revered that a 3-cent postage stamp in their likenesses was issued, Congress set aside Feb. 3 as Four Chaplains Day, and honored the four posthumous with a Special Medal for Heroism, The Four Chaplains’ Medal, which has never been given since.

 

The story, according to survivors and those who knew the four men, is that Washington, Poling, Goode, and Fox were all drafted as chaplains to serve during World War II. The four met and became friends at Harvard Divinity School where they were sent for training before entering the war.

 

The friendship was unusual, according to Struim, because in the 1940s people tended to stay within their own social group. “If you were Catholic you stood within your enclave of Catholics and if you were Jewish, it was the same,” Sturim said. “There was very little crossover.”

 

They were assigned to the U.S. Army transport Dorchester and on Feb. 3, it was in transit to an American base in Greenland when a German U2 submarine fired on the ship, causing it sink.

 

“The four calmed those on board and personally handed out the life preservers, giving out every one, including their own,” Strum said. “Those who survived remember seeing them on the ship, arm-in-arm, singing as the ship went down.”

 

For many years, the National American Legion has encouraged posts across the nation to host a Four Chaplains Day event, something that Grand Rapids’ American Legion Post 459 has been doing for the past 14 years.

 

This year’s event, set for Saturday, Jan. 28, from noon – 2 p.m., will focus on the story of the four chaplains, their friendship and sacrifice. Taking place at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW, the event includes the Grand Rapids & District Pipe Band, the Freedom Voices, and guest speaker retired Capt. Paul Ryan, who is the state chair emeritus/military outreach director for the Michigan Committee for Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve.

 

Refreshments will be served following the service. Struim also noted the Ford Museum will be free to program attendees.

‘SPACE: A Journey to Our Future’ lifts off Nov. 5 at Gerald R. Ford Museum

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Education, Entertainment, Upcoming Events,

spaceajourneyFrom Nov. 5, 2016, through May 29, 2017, visitors to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW in Grand Rapids will experience the sights and sounds of space exploration through live performances, easy-to-use interactive exhibits and state-of-the-art projection and audio technology.

 

The SPACE: A Journey to Our Future exhibition immerses visitors in the discoveries of the past and introduces them to today’s explorers who are shaping our destiny in the universe. Ride a lunar module simulator on a journey to the surface of the moon and visit a simulated scientific base camp on Mars.

 

Although SPACE is geared to young people ages 9 to 17, visitors of all ages will enjoy learning about space exploration.

 

The 12,000-square-foot exhibition is one of the largest touring space exhibits ever developed. Over the next four years, it will visit Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

U.S. Senator Gary C. Peters will open the exhibit Nov. 10 at 7 pm.

Make your reservation at 616.254.0384 or at ford_events@nara.gov.

 

West Michigan celebrates and honors Labor Day

Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

Spirit of Solidarity MonumentBy: Mike DeWitt

Mike.DeWitt@wktv.org

 

Recently, the meaning behind Labor Day has faded into the background with the passing of each year. While some still honor and observe the holiday’s significance, a national holiday since 1894, most see it solely as a day off and an end to the summer. Since 2009, the West Michigan Labor Fest has kept the celebration alive and at the forefront with a festival surrounding the Spirit of Solidarity Monument in downtown Grand Rapids.

 

“The festival takes place around the Spirit of Solidarity Monument out at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum because of what it represents,” said Committee Chair, and Grand Rapids Employees Independent Union member, Tracey Roerig. “The monument represents the furniture factory workers in Grand Rapids and the fight they endured for workers rights.”

 

The West Michigan Labor Fest celebrates the rights of all workers and unions with a local focus. The Spirit of Solidarity Monument was completed in 2007 to honor the bravery of the striking immigrant workers in 1911. The strike lasted four months, from April to August, and demanded a nine-hour day, a 10 percent raise to offset the rising cost of living, the abolition of pay based on piece work, and the right to have unions to bargain with factory owners. The strike ended on August 19 when strikers voted to end the walkout without reaching their demands. While the strike didn’t yield its stated goals, the will of the worker lives on.

 

During West Michigan Labor Fest – which takes place from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Ah-Nab-Awen Park (located in front of the Ford Museum) – families can enjoy free admission to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, free live entertainment, rides and games for children, arts and crafts, food vendors and a beer tent.

 

“If the weather is nice, we expect about three to four-thousand to attend the festival,” said Roerig.

 

Labor FestWhile beautiful weather, live music, fun and games can lead to a wonderful day to spend with family and friends, it’s important to remember the serious nature behind Labor Day.

 

Labor Day and its inclusion as a national holiday stems from stressed worker-owner relations, a national strike, and a President looking to appease working-class owners during an election year. In the later part of the 19th century, at the height of the Industrial Revolution, labor unions utilized strikes to fight for higher pay and better working conditions.

 

Such was the case in 1893 when the Pullman railroad company was caught in the nationwide economic depression and was forced to lay off hundreds of employees while levying wage cuts on the employees that remained. In May of 1894, the employees went on strike and it immediately became a national issue. Then President Grover Cleveland declared the strike a federal crime and sent 12,000 troops to break it up. Violence and riots ensured resulting in deaths of more than a dozen workers. The strike ended on August 3, 1894 with the mid-term election on the horizon. Cleveland and the Democratic held Congress worried about a fallout in the polls due to a weakened economy and stressed worker relations. So Congress quickly, and unanimously, passed a bill declaring Labor Day a national holiday.

 

However, the conciliation effort failed miserably. The Republicans took back both the Senate and the House, with the House of Representatives seeing the largest swing in history with the Republicans gaining 130 seats and the Democrats losing 127.

 

West Michigan Labor Fest looks to keep those who attend educated on the importance of labor unions.

 

Labor Fest“Ten local unions will have booths set up to help educate those regarding the unions and why Labor Day is important,” said Eric Vandersteel, a member of the G.R. Federation of Musicians and on the committee for the West Michigan Labor Fest. “They tell stories about organized labor. Everyone from retirees to current working union members are there to share their stories.”

 

“The different labor booths around the festival help keep the spirit of Labor Day alive. One year we had a test with Labor Day information on it!” added Roerig.

 

The history is heavy and important, but ultimately Labor Day is a celebration, and Roerig and the rest of the West Michigan Labor Fest committee wants to make sure everyone has a great time.

 

“Kids and families come down and dance with the band in the grass. It’s a nice family atmosphere and is free for everyone to attend.”

Experiencing History in West Michigan

Area Education, Local Entertainment, Local History, Recreation, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

USSSilversides
USS Silversides

West Michigan is full of rich, vibrant history, and many opportunities to get out and experience it. Experiencing history, rather than simply reading it out of a textbook, provides a far richer understanding of the people, places, and experiences of the area. We’ve collected some of our favorite ways for you to experience the varied history of the region, from living history parks to visiting the seat of Michigan’s only monarchy to tasting ice cream from a 120 year old company.

USS Silversides Submarine Museum

Tour a restored WWII Submarine, a Prohibition-Era Coast Guard Cutter and the Naval Museum at the USS Silversides Submarine Museum in Muskegon. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience what it was really like to sail a sub trolling the waters of the South Pacific 60-plus years ago. Named for a small fish of the same name, the Silversides once slid beneath the surface of some of the most dangerous waters in the world.  You can walk the deck topside as well as the major internal compartments below deck.  Keep an eye on their calendar for special lectures, classes and performances, too!

LakeshoreMuseumCenterLakeshore Museum Center

The Lakeshore Museum Center is a fun and fascinating museum which preserves and interprets through exhibits, education, and programs the natural and cultural history of Muskegon County. Take a 400 million year journey that explores the prehistoric plants and animals of Michigan’s past, or get pulled into the Science Center where everyone can learn about simple science through hands-on activities. Some of their permanent exhibits include, “Coming to the Lakes” featuring a life-sized mastodon, fur trader’s cabin and tools used during the lumbering era! The “Habitats Gallery” tells of native plants and animals.

Coopersville Historical Society Museum

Coopersville Historical SocietyHighlights of the Coopersville Area Historical Society Museum include extensive railroad and interurban train displays, a sawmill exhibit circled by a model railroad running through logging territory, an early schoolroom, household furnishings and business displays, among which is an extensive recreation of an early local drugstore. Also featured is the Del Shannon monument and exhibit which commemorate the life and career of Coopersville’s native son who gained international fame in the 1960’s as a recording artist and songwriter. A Lincoln log activity area, along with other exhibits, is popular with younger visitors. The Museum’s collections are enhanced by the quaint and nostalgic atmosphere of its two buildings.

The main museum building is a Michigan Historic Site and on the National Register of Historic Places. The charming brick structure was once a depot and substation for the area’s electric powered interurban rail line, the Grand Rapids, Grand Haven & Muskegon Railway, which ran from 1902-28. A rare passenger car from the railway, Car #8 – Merlin, sits beside the building where it once made many daily stops. The car is undergoing stages of restoration. Adjoining the former depot is the rustically designed Sawmill & Early Settlers Building which houses exhibits reminiscent of early settlement days.

Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Grand Traverse LighthouseLocated at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula near the village of Northport, the Grand Traverse Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes, and guided ships through the northern entrance to the Manitou Passage for 150 years. Today it is a museum surrounded by a picturesque state park where visitors can envision the once-isolated life of lighthouse keepers and their families, with extensive exhibits and period furnishings from the 1920s and 1930s. Its popular “volunteer lighthouse keeper” program provides an opportunity to live in the lighthouse, carrying on routine maintenance and answering the questions of its frequent visitors.

Castle Farms

Castle FarmsTreat your family to nearly 100 years of history at Castle Farms of Charlevoix. Inspired by French castles, Castle Farms was built in 1918 as a model farm. Closed in 1927, the beautiful stone buildings fell into disrepair. In later years, the Castle served as an artist’s mecca, and also rock n’roll central, with performances by 100 different rock groups. A restoration begun in 2001 completed the Castle’s transformation. Tours include viewing displays of antique toys, castles, royalty items, and WWI museum. Train buffs and kids of all ages will love the indoor train displays. Open year round, Castle Farms is a spectacular piece of Michigan history to explore.

Hudsonville Ice CreamHudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream

Started in 1895 as a farmers’ cooperative, the Holland-based Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream is the largest manufacturer of branded ice cream in Michigan. Nearly 90 years ago, in 1926, the company was located in Burnips—in north-central Allegan County. Four of the six original flavors remain in the company’s portfolio: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and butter pecan (orange pineapple and Tootie Fruitie since been discontinued).

Today, this Midwest company has been producing its creamy, delicious ice cream – using many of its original flavors, while at the same time creating refreshing new recipes inspired by the Great Lakes. A recent partnership with Travel Michigan and the Pure Michigan brand has resulted in a plethora of flavors that give a nod to the agricultural industry here in the Great Lakes State. Current Limited Edition Flavors include Pumpkin Pie, Pure Michigan Salted Caramel Apple and Pure Michigan Winter Campfire. Year-round offerings such as Sleeping Bear Dunes Bear Hug, Mackinac Island Fudge, Grand Traverse Bay Cherry Fudge and Michigan Deer Traxx, among others.

Others:

Get your history fix with a visit to the below locations to experience a step back in time.

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids
Gerber Guest House, Fremont
Harbor Springs Area Historical Society
Historic White Pine Village, Ludington
Historical Association of South Haven
Holland Museum, Holland
Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum, South Haven
Michigan Maritime Museum, South Haven
Michigan Flywheelers Museum, South Haven
Music House Museum, Acme
Point Betsie Lighthouse, Frankfort
Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, Ludington
Silver Beach Carousel, St. Joseph
USS LST 393, Muskegon