Date: July 20, 2001Contact: Jeanne Goodvin, Special Projects Director: JGoodvin@wichita.gov: (316) 268-4351
What: Site Dedication for New Museum on the RiverWhen: TOMORROW, Saturday, July 21, 2:00 PMWhere: Parking Lot Across the Street from the Mid-American Indian CenterWho: U.S. Department of Defense, City Council, McConnell AFB, U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt
Tomorrow, Saturday, July 21, at 2 p.m., the City of Wichita and the American Overseas Schools Historical Society (AOSHS) will dedicate the site that will house the Historic Museum and Archives. The dedication will take place on property across the street from the Mid-American All-Indian Center. This is a five-acre site on City property. This dedication will celebrate the start of a museum that for several years has only been a dream. This site dedication will also celebrate the combined fund-raising efforts of the AOSHS, the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS), and the BRATS (military dependents). The future museum will hold historical information and memorabilia from the more than 600 American schools based overseas. Wichita was chosen from a field of 14 other cities to be “Hometown USA” to the thousands of military dependents and educators from overseas schools. The mission of AOSHS is to establish a historical park to collect, record, display and preserve the unique history of educating American children and youth abroad. The museum will include a courtyard with walkways that will feature bricks, blocks, polished granite pavers, and benches honoring current and past educators, students, families, schools and alumni associations who shared in this educational experience abroad. The museum will also have permanent, changing and rotating exhibits of schools and alumni associations. The AOSHS museum will be a valued addition to the Museums on the River and Arkansas River Corridor project. Over 800 people are expected to be in Wichita for this reunion and site-dedication. The groundbreaking is planned for 2002. In the organization newsletter, The AOSHS Quarterly, Diane Jean Kempton stated “the City of Wichita offers the perfect mid-America environment as a hometown to people who have traveled so extensively, or lived overseas so long, that they fell they have no hometown.” “Wichita is honored to become the home for so many memories from people who have attended American Overseas Schools,” said District VI Council Member Sharon Fearey. “It is truly an honor to have such a celebrated and meaningful addition to our museum district.” Special guests attending the site dedication include; U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt, Dr. Joe Tafoya, director, Department of Defense Education, Washington, D.C., Dr. Eugene Hughes, President Emeritus, Wichita State University, Dr. John Stremple, past director, Department of Defense Dependent Schools, Dr. Tom Drysdale, president, AOSHS, Col. Ronald Ladnier, Commander, 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Sharon Fearey, District VI, City Council Member and Carl Brewer, District I, City Council Member.
Tomorrow, Saturday, July 21, at 2 p.m., the City of Wichita and the American Overseas Schools Historical Society (AOSHS) will dedicate the site that will house the Historic Museum and Archives. The dedication will take place on property across the street from the Mid-American All-Indian Center. This is a five-acre site on City property. This dedication will celebrate the start of a museum that for several years has only been a dream. This site dedication will also celebrate the combined fund-raising efforts of the AOSHS, the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS), and the BRATS (military dependents).
The future museum will hold historical information and memorabilia from the more than 600 American schools based overseas. Wichita was chosen from a field of 14 other cities to be “Hometown USA” to the thousands of military dependents and educators from overseas schools.
The mission of AOSHS is to establish a historical park to collect, record, display and preserve the unique history of educating American children and youth abroad. The museum will include a courtyard with walkways that will feature bricks, blocks, polished granite pavers, and benches honoring current and past educators, students, families, schools and alumni associations who shared in this educational experience abroad. The museum will also have permanent, changing and rotating exhibits of schools and alumni associations.
The AOSHS museum will be a valued addition to the Museums on the River and Arkansas River Corridor project. Over 800 people are expected to be in Wichita for this reunion and site-dedication. The groundbreaking is planned for 2002.
In the organization newsletter, The AOSHS Quarterly, Diane Jean Kempton stated “the City of Wichita offers the perfect mid-America environment as a hometown to people who have traveled so extensively, or lived overseas so long, that they fell they have no hometown.”
“Wichita is honored to become the home for so many memories from people who have attended American Overseas Schools,” said District VI Council Member Sharon Fearey. “It is truly an honor to have such a celebrated and meaningful addition to our museum district.”
Special guests attending the site dedication include; U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt, Dr. Joe Tafoya, director, Department of Defense Education, Washington, D.C., Dr. Eugene Hughes, President Emeritus, Wichita State University, Dr. John Stremple, past director, Department of Defense Dependent Schools, Dr. Tom Drysdale, president, AOSHS, Col. Ronald Ladnier, Commander, 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Sharon Fearey, District VI, City Council Member and Carl Brewer, District I, City Council Member.
Community Relations City Hall, 13th floor 455 North Main Wichita, KS 67202
Hours: 8 AM-5 PM Monday-Friday
: (316) 268-4351 : (316) 268-4519
Dale Goter Government Relations Director
Van Williams Public Information Officer
Lauragail Locke Marketing Services Director
View archived news releases by year:
AOSHS Archives & Museum
July 13, 1998 Press Release