Stars & Stripes Museum hosts Sixth Corp Living History Group

ADVANCENSC@sbcglobal.net Historian Richard Ford explains the role of African-American soldiers in the Confederate Army during the U.S. Civil War. Ford's grandfather served in the Confederate Army.

Southeast Missouri provided a sunny, pleasantly cool weekend for the Stars & Stripes Museum's contribution to the Bloomfield Fall Festival, as members of the Sixth Corp Living History Group of St. Louis set up camp beside the historic barn on the hill just above the veteran's cemetery.

Reenactors pitched their tents on Thursday night, in order to prepare for 306 school students, who visited the grounds on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015.

The theme was "Welcome Home: Reflections of History 1860 to the Present."

ADVANCENSC@sbcglobal.net World War II reenactors were encamped on the hill at the Stars & Stripes Museum during the Bloomfield Fall Fest on Oct. 16-17, 2015.

Participants' stories reveal that most of the historic reenactors are dedicated history buffs. Many report having been involved in this sort of history project for forty years or more.

There would appear to be a need. A member of the Australian reenactor group told a story that illustrates a point:

"One year, we heard a young boy ask his mother, 'Mother, are these guys the good guys--or the bad guys?' 'They're the bad guys, son,' she said."

ADVANCENSC@sbcglobal.net Wyatt Hendley of Bloomfield wore his grandfather's WWII helmet to the historic event Saturday. A WWII reenactor examines it and shares a moment with young Hendley.

The young mother had no idea that Australia had fought on the side of the Allies in WWII.

Activities continued on Saturday, with all the participants sleeping in their tents around campfires Friday night and undoubtedly sharing stories.

This year, the Civil War was added to the event, as Sikeston High School history teacher, Rick Justice, put his favorite subject into action, portraying a member of Lt. Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest's 3rd Tennessee Mounted Cavalry.

ADVANCENSC@sbcglobal.net Rick Justice, a history teacher from Sikeston, provided the Civil War reenactment at the historic event on Saturday.

"Next year, I'm going all out on this event and bringing some of my students, who want to participate," Justice explained. "One of my black students wants to carry the Confederate Battle flag. They're very enthusiastic!"

Continuing that theme inside the museum, historian Richard Ford discussed the role of African Americans, who served in the Confederate Army with his grandfather. Ford has been invited to return to the Stars & Stripes to speak to a meeting of the Stoddard County Historical Society later in the year.

Walking through the encampment, talking with the men and women who participate in this event, the visitor becomes aware that this truly is "Living history."