The Hobbs Park Memorial was dedicated on August 19, 2001, in a two-hour ceremony attended by hundreds, under the light blue sky of a perfect summer day. A host of regional community leaders, politicians and educators retraced the landscape and legacy of this State's important history. Two church choirs sang and the platform was lined with Buffalo Soldiers, and members of the Western Star Masonic Lodge. A proclamation was read from the Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts.

It was the first dedication of a historical monument in Lawrence since October 1929, when the last survivors of the Civil War era were finally leaving the stage.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Reverend Emanuel Cleaver

GUEST SPEAKERS
Congressman Dennis Moore
Mayor Mike Rundle
Rev. Paul Winn
Rev. Tim Miller
Julia Mathias
Prof. Bill Tuttle
Mark Kaplan
Jim McCrary

MC
Judy Wright

ENTERTAINMENT
St. Luke AME Choir
Praise Temple Choir
Steven Mason & Friends
Ardys Ramberg

GUEST APPEARANCES
Members of the Buffalo Soldiers
Members of theWestern Star Lodge

"We ought to hold on to our history until we get our blessing from it."

Rev. Emanuel Cleaver,
former Mayor of Kansas City, MO,
Dedication Day, August 19. 2001

"The history of Lawrence is the history of our state, and the history of our nation. We're here to honor the people who chose freedom for our state. "

Rep. Dennis Moore,
Congressman, 3rd District of Kansas,
Dedication Day, August 19. 2001

 

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