Pershing Museum and Leadership Archives

2011 - September

The Combat Motorcycle Veterans Association (CMVA) of the Greater Kansas City Area, had their monthly meeting in September. Meeting the "Pershing 150 Challange" President Mark Miller of MCVA hands Robert Devoy president of PPMA a $150 check to go toward the new John J. Pershing Archive and Leadership Museum.
Visiting 'A French Laclede' : Freshly returned from their trip to Souilly France, Mayor Gary Brown and his wife Jamy recount their trip to a crowded Pershing Association Building Saturday. They recall the warm hospitality of the foreign country, its sites and sounds, along with an occasional active grenade or landmine for added excitement. [source: Linn County Leader]
Pershing Day Photos

2011 - June

Veteran's Groups Challenged to Help Build Pershing Museum :

The Pershing Park Memorial Association (PPMA) and Pershing Park Administrator Denzil Heaney have taken one giant step closer to making the Pershing Memorial Museum and Leadership Archives a reality by securing the pledge of the Missouri Army National Guard to construct the proposed Pershing archive repository. There's just one catch. Although the Army National Guard will build the museum and archives at no cost, funds for the materials must still be raised. To secure those funds, Heaney and the PPMA Board are asking veteran's groups (i.e. VFW, American Legion, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association) to participate in a fundraising effort that will become known as the Pershing '150' Challenge. [source: Linn County Leader]

2011 - May

9 Year old Courtney Jessen, a forth grader of Chillicothe Central School was assigned by her teacher Mr. McKay to do research on a famous Missourian. Courtney Chose General John J. Pershing and she did her homework. She visited his boyhood home in Laclede and the museum where she found lots of information about the General of the Armies. Laclede is where Courtney's Mom Jamy Brown lives, and she was able to get access of an old army uniform for Courtney to wear. She really played the part with her reenactment, making up a speech on cards and telling her class all that she had learned from her visit to the Pershing museum, the card are now in the museum. Courtney's step-dad is the mayor of Laclede, their family had the honor to host and entertain two French dignitaries and a translator that came to visit Laclede for the 150th birthday celebration for Pershing last September.

2011 - April

Sign Moves, History Remains Unchanged : In a quiet little spot just west of Brookfield or southeast of Laclede was a marker that at one time was the focal point of a roadside area that gave a bit of a rest to travelers. A black metal sign with raised gold letters marked the history of the area for visitors not familiar with the area, whether that be locals or people on a busy cross state ribbon known as Highway 36. [source: Linn County Leader]
A Day in the Life of... Denzil Heaney Pershing Home Director : Dedicating oneself to the study of a great person, and striving to instill this person's ideals into another generation is a tall task indeed. Such is the task of Denzil Heaney, Director of the Pershing Boyhood Home in Laclede.
Denzil holds a Bachelor's Degree in History, with an emphasis in Military History. He is working on his Master's Degree in Land Warfare focusing on the late 19th and early 20th centuries, focusing on the Pershing Era. [source: Linn County Leader]

2011 - March

Pershing Museum Travels to Ohio : The Pershing Park Memorial Association (PPMA) sent a small delegation to the Pershing Rifles National Convention. The group consisted of Judge Robert Devoy (PPMA President), his wife Clare Devoy, Will Tollerton (PPMA Secretary), and Denzil Heaney (Board Member and Director of the Pershing Boyhood Home Historical Site).

Denzil Heaney presented three power point presentations on the General John J. Pershing State Historic Site and the Association's designs on constructing a new structure on the grounds of the boyhood home site [source: Linn County Leader]
Donation Made to Pershing Museum :
The Black Jack Players presented a check to the Pershing Museum on Friday evening at their regular meeting. Those pictured are: (from l to r) Jane Milford and Judge Robert Devoy with the Pershing Museum, Alicyn Ehrich, Joy Boley, Suzan Stephenson, and Kathi Stuart representing the Black Jack Players. The check for $500 was raised from passing the hat at Pershing Days performances. [source: Linn County Leader ]

2010 - September

Pershing Turns 150; Dignitaries Descend on Laclede Saturday Afternoon : If General John J. Pershing could somehow make an appearance for his 150th birthday celebration this weekend, he might be a little put off by the bronze statue erected in his honor in Jefferson City and moved to the Boyhood Home in Laclede where it has remained for the past 42 years. Although a man of Gen. Pershing's stature could not help being portrayed larger than life, he wanted no more accolades than those reserved for any common soldier. [source: Linn County Leader ]
This year's Pershing Days will mark General Pershing's 150th birthday. Scheduled Events to include a performance by the Fort Lenard Wood 399th Army Band.
click here for a complete list of scheduled events.
click here to view photos from the event.

2010 - July

Bucklin Delegates Visit Pershing Museum Table at American Legion Convention

Robert Devoy of Brookfield, president of Pershing Park Memorial Association (PPMA), helped staff a table at the American Legion Convention in Jefferson City, July 9-10. The PPMA took the opportunity to promote General John J. Pershing's upcoming 150th birthday commemoration to be held in Laclede on September 11. Attendees at the convention pictured above standing from L-R: Jim Tollerton, PPMA vice-president; Luke Thomas, Bucklin Sons of the American Legion Squadron 57 commander; Ralph Thomas, District 2 commander; Leighton Reid, Bucklin American Legion Post 57 commander; and Will Tollerton, PPMA secretary. PPMA president Robert Devoy is seated behind the table.

2009 - September

This year during the Pershing Days celebration of General John J. Pershing's birthday in Laclede, Missouri, the Pershing Park Memorial Association had over 300 visitors view the exhibit on display in their building. The exhibit was on loan from the Missouri National Guard Museum in Jefferson City and honored many Missouri soldiers involved in all wars.
Kyle Clawson, son of Jim and Audra Clawson, presented Pershing Park Memorial Association board members with a check for the balance of funds he raised for paint and supplies used for his Eagle Scout project.
Pershing Days The Pershing Park Memorial Association of Laclede Missouri will host a traveling exhibit showcasing the history of Missouri soldiers during the Pershing Days Celebration September 10th 11th and 12th 2009
Local Eagle Scout troop refurbish Pershing Museum. Depicted are scouts from Brookfield's Boy Scout Troop 41, painting the Pershing Memorial Museum in Laclede. Pictured from left to right are: Alec Hargadine, Seth Overton, Keith Lain, Kyle Clawson, Micah Blakely and Frank Clark.

2009 - August

The Pershing Park Memorial Association, has provided funds for the Missouri Department of Transportation to install three highway signs designating the Pershing Boyhood Home site office in Laclede Missouri as a Missouri Welcome Center Affiliate.
Endorsements
- Judge Mary R. Russell of the Missouri Supreme Court is enthusiastic in supporting the Pershing Museum and Archives project.
- Congressman Ike Skelton, Charmen of the House Armed Services Committee, lends his support and endorsement of the Pershing Museum and Archives project.

2009 - July

President of PPMA Robert Devoy and Treasure Jane Milford visited the grave of General John J. Pershing at the Arlington National Cemetery in July 2009.
Brookfield Missouri celebrated its 150 year anniversary in July 2009, PPMA sponsored two floats in the daily parades. Featuring a replica of General Pershing's boyhood home, and a Model-T Ford truck, donated to PPMA by Larry and Ed Smith of Smith Motor Co. of Brookfield Missouri. PPMA plans to restore the truck to a WWI ambulance.

2009 - April

Spring daffodils blooming in front of the Prairie Mound School House located on the campus of the Pershing Boyhood Home site in Laclede Missouri.

2008 - November

On November 18, 2008, in the shadow of the statue of the great General Pershing representatives of Pershing Park Memorial Assn. and Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks and Historic Sites signed a cooperative partnership agreement for the location and construction of the Pershing Museum and Leadership Archives on the Pershing Boyhood Home Site complex in Laclede, Missouri.

2008 - September

On September 13th, 2008 Laclede, Missouri celebrated Pershing Days, as they do every year. The residents of the General's hometown have not forgotten what an impact their favorite son had on history.
A 1917 Model T Ford has been donated to the Association by Eddie and Larry Smith, of Smith Ford Motors in Brookfield, Missouri. The Association plans to convert the vehicle into a World War I ambulance replica for display and use in local parades.
Memorial Day 2008 brought a very special visitor to the Pershing Home. At age 107, Mr. Frank Buckles is the oldest surviving American World War I veteran. He traveled cross-country to visit the Pershing complex and relive his military experiences.
A campaign has begun to raise 1.2 Million Dollars for the development and construction of the new Pershing Memorial Museum and Archives.