 Home | Recent News | Arkansas City | Kansas Day 01 Jan 2008 Kansas Day celebration fun and educational The focus of the first celebration was the seal of Kansas and the meaning of its contents, explained Activities Assistant Coleen Finley. When it was all done, residents at the Manor knew that the East is represented by a rising sun in the right hand corner of the seal. Commerce is represented by a river and steamboat on the left. Agriculture is in the foreground represented by a settler’s cabin and a man plowing with a pair of horses while a train of wagons is headed west. A herd of buffalo is retreating pursued by two Native Americans on horseback and around the top is the motto “ad astra per aspera” (to the stars through difficulties). A cluster of 34 stars indicates that Kansas was admitted to the Union as the 34th state. Residents also picked up some quick facts that would put many Kansans to the test. They learned some historical points and trivia that “make the state special,” says Finley. Try your hand at this quiz which the residents used to see how much they learned: - How old is Kansas this year?
- What is the actual birthday of the state?
- What is the capital city?
- What are its largest cities?
- What are some of the nicknames?
- State tree?
- State flower?
Check your answers at the bottom of the page. In addition to learning Kansas facts, they discussed the state’s constitution. But what would a birthday celebration be without food? Residents also got a “taste” of the state: sunflower seed cookies and whole wheat muffins, capitalizing on some of the state’s crop production. Along with learning new information, the residents remembered their years in Kansas, with some having nearly a century to look back on. A second celebration, which was attended primarily by active living and assisted living residents, focused on Bill Post, now in his 90s and a lifelong resident of the area. He is known for creating the “Kansas State March.” The singer, songwriter, music publisher, record producer and book publisher wrote songs with his late wife, Orvaleen. They were songs recorded by Connie Stevens, The Lettermen, the late Eddie Cochran, Lawrence Welk, The Four Preps and others. Besides the state march, he wrote “Where in the World But Kansas,” “Here’s Kansas” and novelty songs like “The Old Gray Mules, “ “The Long Black Whip” and the “Old Milk Cow.” Post ‘s popular song folio is “Kansas and Kid’s Songs.” A one-hour video,” The Post Story,” features all of those songs and the million seller, “Sixteen Reasons,” gospel songs, as well as a love song he sang to his wife. Manor residents sang along with the Post songs and also discussed the Kansas seal. Treats of chocolate chip cookies with sunflower seeds and muffins made of Kansas wheat rounded out the celebration. Answers to the quiz: a) 147; b) January 29, 1861; c) Topeka; d) Wichita, Kansas City, Overland Park and Topeka; e) Sunflower state and unofficial names like Wheat State and Jayhawker state; f) Cottonwood, adopted in 1937; g) Sunflower, adopted in 1903.
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