Lewis & Clark for the 21st Century

Boy Scouts celebrate the Bicentennial

Council Honors Lewis and Clark, Sacajawea With Special Medals and Patches Scouts Can Earn

The Grand Teton Council, which serves eastern Idaho and western Wyoming, is celebrating the 200th anniversary of Lewis and Clark's historic expedition to the Pacific Northwest in grand style—and Scouts everywhere are invited to join in. Cubs Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, and leaders can qualify for a Lewis and Clark Commemorative Peace Medal, another medal for hiking a portion of the Lewis and Clark Trail, and a set of four activity patches created for the occasion. The council headquarters in Idaho Falls lies to the southeast of the birthplace, near Salmon, of Sacajawea, the American Indian who helped guide the expedition to its destination.

"We kicked off the initial phase of our bicentennial observance in January 2004, after about a year of planning," said Scout Executive Kim Hansen. "But it doesn't hit its peak until 2005, which is the actual 200th anniversary of when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark arrived in Idaho and raised the U.S. flag here for the first time." The front of the peace medal bears a replica of the medal struck in 1805 on orders of President Thomas Jefferson to honor the expedition. It features two clasped hands, a crossed hatchet and peace pipe, and the slogan "Peace and Friendship." Youth and volunteer leaders at all levels of Scouting may earn the right to purchase the peace medal by fulfilling a list of requirements. These include attending a community-sponsored Lewis and Clark event, visiting one of the many local museum exhibits along the explorers' route, and collecting the Lewis and Clark and Sacajawea coins and stamps issued in connection with the anniversary. "There are many interpretive centers, monuments, and displays along the Lewis and Clark route," Hansen noted. "They stretch from...Kansas City to the Pacific. Our local museum in Idaho Falls has had one of the largest and most elaborate exhibits."

The first of four commemorative patches, honoring President Jefferson, was issued in February 2004 and will remain available through December 31. The second patch, honoring Lewis, will be available between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2005; the third, honoring Clark, will be available between April 1 and May 31, 2005; and the fourth, in honor of Sacajawea, will be available from July 1 through Sept. 30, 2005. "The main purpose of this program was to see if we could increase unit activity and pep up our camporee in our own council," Hansen explained. "But it's attracted a lot of outside interest as well."

For more information, contact the Scout council office at (208) 522-5155 or check the council Web site, http://www.grandtetoncouncil.org/index.cfm?pageid=2426 (Lewis and Clark link).

Here are the patches and medals.

   Jefferson patch

Lewis patch 

Clark patch

Sacagewea patch

 

Peace Medal

Trail Medal

200 Birthday Parties for Pomp

Jim Sargent writes from Montana to LCTHF chapters.

Would you join in some fun?

Would you give a party(ies) for the 200th Birthday of "Pomp" Jean Baptiste Charbonneau?

Headwaters Chapter, Bozeman, Montana is well on the way toward a goal of 200 birthday parties to commemorate the 200th birthday of Pomp–February 11, 1805.

Many of you are familiar with this and some have already had a party or are planning one. For others, this may be new.

In working with programs about Pomp, I’ve looked at the journals and I don’t believe there is any mention of his birthday while the Expedition was spending the winter at Fort Clatsop. Isn’t it about time that America correct this! Doing it is a way to call attention to the Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

We started this program last spring. There have already been 48 parties. 1,682 people have attended. They have been in ten states, one Canadian province and one on a cruise ship on the Atlantic Ocean.

We have sent out reports on the parties from time to time. The fifth one is now being distributed by e-mail. I will be sending it to you in a separate email.

If you would like copies of the first four reports, I would be happy to send them to you. On the other hand, if you would like me to remove you from the mailings, please let me know.

A number of chapters already are making plans for parties. THANKS so much for your help. We hope there will be a lot more. Please do as many as you wish. We would like to have way more than 200 parties!

Thanks . . . and Happy Birthday, Pomp!

Update:
I started these parties simply because I thought they could be a lot of fun and be a good way to promote the Lewis and Clark bicentennial. They are going so good. We now have reports of 50 parties with over 1,700 people. I'm going to push for 100 by the end of the year.

Jim

UPDATE
Pomp’s 200 Report # 6 October 18, 2004

Latest Figures! 59 parties . . . Attendance 1940 . . . 10 states . . . Canada: 4 provinces . . . Atlantic Ocean: 2

49. Ringling, Montana: JT’s Bar and Supper Club was the site for a Pomp birthday. Shirley–the cook/waitress/everything–sat down and had cake with the birthday crew–and then took a piece of cake home for her husband and granddaughter.

50. Bozeman, Montana: A "Sign Class for the Deaf" at the Senior Center enjoyed Barbara Christman’s decorated layer cake with raspberry filling and did "Happy Birthday to Pomp" in sign language! Barb says, "It was fun!"

51-55. Canadian Maritime Provinces: Joe and Hilda Basile enriched a Bozeman senior citizen tour. After flying to Halifax, they took a bus to Sydney, Nova Scotia and kicked off with a party at Joe’s Warehouse restaurant. Basiles explained Pomp’s birthdays. There were candles in the cheesecake! At a lobster dinner in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island each person got a photocopy of the Pomp doll and a bio of Pomp. Aboard a lobster lunch cruise in Cheticamp Harbor, New Brunswick, Happy Birthday was sung once again. At a box lunch in the picnic area of Roosevelt International Park on Campobello Island the group broke into a spontaneous rendition of the birthday song. Aboard a whale-watching cruise in the Bay of Fundy, after the host served hot chocolate and candy, the group once again honored Pomp’s birthday.

What a wonderful part of Pomp’s 200 parties. The Basiles are so pleased because Pomp’s father was French-Canadian. WOW, what parties!

56. Bozeman, Montana: The Better Homemakers Extension Club invited a group of neighbors to join them for a program of "Where Was Pomp on the 11th" and "The Time line of Pomp’s Life." Sure there was a beautiful cake and the song was sung! This was the first Extension Service group to do a party. That’s great. Everyone got a certificate!

57. Big Timber, Montana: Do a neighborhood party like Louie and Clara Strand! "We fed them ‘buffalo burgers’–really Texas Longhorn beef, squash, salad, spuds and angel food cake with whipped cream and huckleberries that Sacagawea had just picked. I described your project. Each person read something about Pomps’ status each month. We discussed a lot of these and enjoyed the information. I would say we all enjoyed the party and good fellowship."

58. The New Hampshire Train Ride: Helen Brock is really helping with Pomp’s parties! For her third one she took her history-loving god-son on a round trip train ride from North Conway to Crawford Notch, Maine. Afterwards it was to Jonathon’s for dinner for Ray and Pomp. Don’t you think Ray is now even more interested in the Lewis and Clark Expedition!

59. Bozeman, Montana: The "Bridge by Methodists" group came to our house for an evening of cards, so, of course we had a birthday party for Pomp. Charlie and Shirley Rust had given us a fresh loaf of rye bread so, with a candle, it made a great "cake." We had a few "intermissions" to do Pomp history. A Sacagawea dollar and a Lewis and Clark nickle made fine prizes. All got certificates.

* * * * *

GOALS

1. These reports are to encourage individuals and groups to do a Pomp Birthday party. Look at all the ideas, the variety, and how easily it can be done. It is easy to call some attention to the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial with a party and it is fun, too.

2. Let’s have more parties soon. We would like to have 100 by the end of December. Can you help us reach that goal?

***********

Headwaters Chapter celebration is continuing with plans for the big 200th party on February 27, 2005. More exciting information as it becomes available.

You don’t need a party number in advance. Just send a report to "Pomp’s 200 Birthday Parties

c/o Headwaters L&C Chapter, P. O. Box 577, Bozeman, MT 59771-0577." Tell something about the party. Be sure to include the number of people involved.

Forward this email as you wish. Thanks

Jim Sargent

Meriwether Lewis Statue at Fort Lewis

From: Guy Benson to the Carolinas Chapter of the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Society

I have been the President of the Meriwether Society since leaving the Carolina Chapter president’s position in the good hand of Taylor Haynes. Members of the Meriwether Society are descendants of Nicholas Meriwether (1632 - 1678) who settled in Jamestown about 1652. Meriwether Lewis is a descendant of Nicholas, his mother and paternal grandmother both being Meriwethers. He is our most famous relative. The society was excited to learn about a new statue of Meriwether at Fort Lewis in the state of Washington and decided to get involved in raising money for the statue.

Fort Lewis is the largest army base on the west coast and was named for Meriwether Lewis. However, in an informal survey of 27 local people by the project leader only 3 people knew this fact. For this reason and the increased interest due to the Bicentennial, the local Ft. Lewis chapter of retired army personnel, a private organization, decided to erect a statue of Meriwether Lewis with his dog Seaman in the memorial park at the entrance to Fort Lewis. The statue will be 12 feet tall measured from the soles of his boots to the tip of his espontoon and will be mounted on a large pedestal. Lewis will be in the full uniform of his military unit, the 1st US Infantry. The memorial park will also have a large map of the US showing the trail and a statue of Sgt. Ordway representing enlisted men. The park is outside the fort and open to visitors. A picture of the full size clay model taken last weekend is attached. For more information see http://meriwethersociety.org

In addition to funds for the statue, if the Meriwether Society raises $10,000 a plaque will be dedicated to the Meriwether and Lewis families. You may or may not be interested in this genealogical aspect but the statue itself should be of interest to you. If you can help us with a donation for the statue it will be greatly appreciated. Contributions are tax deductible under section 501 ©)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Checks should be written to Fort Lewis Chapter of the AUSA and annotated for the statue of Captain Meriwether Lewis. Checks should be mailed to:
Linda Meriwether Harber
8636 Breton Road, SE
Caledonia MI 49316-9122

Please indicate to Linda that you are a member of the Carolina Chapter of the LCTHF. Your name will be listed in our newsletter, Meriwether Connections unless you prefer not to be listed. Linda will bundle the checks and forward them to the AUSA so the Meriwether Society gets credit for collecting the money. None of the money will go to the Meriwether Society.

Taylor Haynes, President of the Carolina Chapter, supports this request. If you have any questions please contact me. Thank you for any consideration you can give our campaign.
Guy Meriwether Benson
President, The Meriwether Society, Inc.
7016 Valley Lake Drive
Raleigh NC 27612
919-848-1915
E-mail: guybenson@prodigy.net