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ABILENE, Kan. - Dwight D. Eisenhower's 122nd birthday will be marked this year with a number of activities at the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home in Abilene.
Chapman and Abilene, Kan., 7th graders will be immersed in 1950s culture on Oct. 10 and 11 respectively. As part of their day they will meet President Eisenhower as portrayed by Bruce Hoff who has been portraying General and President Dwight Eisenhower for several years. The students will also receive behind-the-scenes tours of the Archives and Museum.
Members of the Kansas Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Posts will stand vigil over the final resting place of the President at the Place of Meditation. The vigil will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 12 and continue overnight.
The Eisenhower Legacy Dinner will be held Friday, Oct. 12 in the Library building beginning with a reception at 6:15 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. The featured speaker is Mr. Joe Drape, author of Soldiers First: Duty, Honor, Country, and Football at West Point.The cost is $60 per person or $75 with a signed copy of Soldiers First. Reservations are required by October 5 and can be made by sending a check to the Eisenhower Foundation, P.O. Box 295, Abilene, Kan. 67410.
A wreath laying ceremony is slated for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13. Maj. Gen. John K. Davoren, Commanding General, 35th Infantry of Ft. Leavenworth and CSM Miguel Rivera of the First Infantry Division at Ft. Riley will lead a procession to the burial site of President Eisenhower and lay a wreath. Following the ceremony, the Kansas American Legion Annual Pilgrimage will be held at the Eisenhower Statue in the center of the campus. A firing squad and colors will be presented by Chapman Post #240.
The Eisenhower Legacy Dinner is generously sponsored by ALCO Stores, Inc. All proceeds from the 2012 Eisenhower Legacy Dinner will go toward the Eisenhower Foundation research travel grants for study at the Library. Thanks to a special gift, all donations will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000.
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