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Honoring Hawk: longtime friend of the Fort
e Fort Scott National Historic Site (FFSNHS) and guests attended the fifth annual Friends Fest April 21 at the Liberty Theater. Honored during the event was Kansas artist Gary Hawk of Iola.
Betty Boyko, superintendent of Fort Scott National Historic Site, thanked Hawk for his contributions to the fort.
In 1978 Hawk painted four paintings of historic Fort Scott, which were used for fund raising for the national park.
"In 2007, President and Mrs. Bush selected national parks as the theme for the Christmas ornaments at the White House," Boyko said. "I called Gary...he created a lovely ornament and represented Fort Scott at Washington D.C."
A video of Hawk's life was presented, followed by an open microphone for those who wanted to speak about him.
Hawk spoke first.
"Fort Scott is so special to me," he said. "It means so much to be honored."
"When you ask Gary Hawk to do something as an artist, you get an extraordinary artist who puts his heart and soul into every stroke of that brush," Anne Emerson said.
Friends activities
Several leaders spoke during the evening.
Reed Hartford, FFSNHS president said the group has brought several programs to the fort.
"The Things They Carried Home" was a workshop on how to preserve historical materials for future generations, such as documents and clothing, he said.
Hartfold said recently Fort Scott fourth-graders went to Topeka for a history field trip, sponsored by "A Ticket to Ride," a National Park Foundation program.
"Later this spring, three schools from outside Kansas will come to our fort," he said, will also be funded by "A Ticket to Ride."
"Our national park is one of the eight wonders of Kansas history," Hartford said.
Boyko thanked the Friends group for the partnership with the park and the community.
FFSNHS has provided grants to fund speakers, film series and provide lunch for the newly naturalized citizens each September following the naturalization ceremony at the fort, she said. The group also initiated the Symbols of Sacrifice program three years ago to honor fallen veterans.
"(The Friends group is) a way to deepen public support for the park and deepen the value of the park to the community," she said. "I'm grateful for this relationship."
Jim Loach, National Park Service Associate Regional Director of Operations and Education, thanked the Friends group for their assistance in creating new programs.
"I think (FSNHS) is one of the crown jewels in the region," he said.
Emcee for the evening was Jim Scott.
Matt and Katie Wells, volunteers at the fort, danced in 1800s style for entertainment.
Jim and Paulette Smith were given special recognition for their donations to the FFSNHS and also were given lifetime memberships to the organization.
Special guests
Special guests attending the Friends Fest, besides the Hawk family, were Caryn Tyson, Kansas District 12 Senator along with her father-in-law, Robert Tyson, a former Kansas Senator from 1996 to 2004; Marty Reid, Kansas House of Representative District 4; and Dick Lusardi, superintendent of the fort from 1996 to 1999.