By Dr. Ferrell Miller
The JC Breakfast Optimist Club’s guest speakers on August 17 were Melanie Laster and Jim Sands, who are among those working on the Buffalo Soldier Trail Project in Geary County. Melanie is the Secretary/Treasurer and Jim is the President. Others involved in the project include Margy Stewart, Delilah Hamilton, Fred Reid, and Heather Hagedorn.
Both expressed concern that “our rich history of the Black community in Geary County be celebrated and not get lost.” Jim Sands also said that “we need stories and artifacts brought to the Geary County Museum to remind us about the Black families and experiences of those families that lived and worked here.
The source of funding for this project to this point has come from a $10,000 grant provided by the Kansas Humanities Foundation. “Goals of the project are to educate people about the diversity and what we can continue to do to work together. Ways community members can help with the project is by donating lumber, printing, helping with signage, marketing, and concrete work.”
Laster stated that “this will not be a walking tour on a trail, but sites will be visited by car or bus around different parts of the city.” The sites currently identified on the Buffalo Soldier Trail will include the Geary County Historical Society Museum; Ward Chapel AME Church; Buffalo Soldier Monument; Pawnee Park and Village; The Buffalo Soldier Service Organization (USO); The Pentecostal Church; Church of God; VFW Post 8773; Highland Cemetery; Second Missionary Baptist Church and the entrance to Rathert Field. The plan is to have signage with information at or near the site to explain the significance of that site to the visitor.
The JC Breakfast Optimist Club meets every Wednesday at the Hampton Inn located at 1029 S. Washington Street in Junction City. A free breakfast buffet is available for those who attend a meeting for the first time, which is served at 6:30 AM. The Optimist Club meeting begins at 6:50 AM.