[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2009-05-19

[Heritage Info]

In this issue:
1. Japanese immigration talk set for May 20
2.  New bulletin helps with cemetery cleanups
3.  Bay Area veterans' stories to be featured May 23
4.  Fort Vancouver launches new podcast


JAPANESE IMMIGRATION TALK SET FOR MAY 20

The Portland State University Friends of History and the Wells Fargo
History Museum present a free lecture *Japanese Immigration and  Early
Portland" by Gary Higashi of the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center at 7 p.m.
May 20. The presentation coincides with Asian Pacific Islander Heritage
Month. The talk will take place in Room 494 of Cramer Hall, 1721 SW
Broadway, Portland. For more information, contact  503-725-3917.


NEW BULLETIN HELPS WITH CEMETERY CLEANUPS

A new Heritage Bulletin from the Heritage Programs of the Oregon Parks
and Recreation Department details how to organize a cemetery clean up
day. It includes tips on advance planning, scheduling, publicity,
preparations and followup. It is the eighth bulletin created to help
people with researching, developing and preserving historic cemeteries.
For access to the complete list of Heritage Bulletins, visit 
http://www.oregonheritage.org/OPRD/HCD/Bulletins.shtml .


BAY AREA VETERANS' STORIES TO BE FEATURED MAY 23

A program featuring "recollections" of local veterans from the Civil
War into the 21st century will highlight events May 23 at Marshfield
High School and Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery in Coos Bay. Performances
will also include selections by the Marshfield High School Band, a
jitterbug by Mr. MHS, and an original composition "White Crosses" by
Karl Bender. The program will culminate with the presentation of the
Oregon Honorable Service Medal as the Vietnam Veterans of America
continue an Oregon tradition of recognizing the service of veterans. Any
veteran currently serving, who has previously served under honorable
conditions, or is deceased and buried in Oregon is eligible to receive
this award.

The hgih school doors open at noon, with the program scheduled for 1
p.m. The dedication of a military headstone for Michael Painter, Civil
War veteran currently in an unmarked grave, will follow the program at
approximately 2:30 p.m. The Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War,
Corporal Louis Renniger Camp No. 1, will assist. The Marshfield Pioneer
Cemetery will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Memorial Day weekend and
will also be open for Decoration Day on May 30.

To pre-register for the medal or additional information, contact
Southwestern Oregon Veterans Outreach (541) 756-8718 at the Pony Village
Mall, or call M. Tribble (541) 266-7461, Vietnam Veterans of
America-Chapter 799. Local veterans* organizations, veterans*
support groups, and historic preservation groups have been invited to
set up small displays for viewing before and after the ceremony. 

For more information about these May activities, contact Becky Soules
at (541) 269-7832 or cbcemetery at att.net  The cemetery's new website,
http://cbcemetery.home.att.net/  , was designed by students at
Southwestern Oregon Community College.


FORT VANCOUVER LAUNCHES NEW PODCAST

Superintendent Tracy Fortmann has announced the launch of the Fort
Vancouver podcast. This free audio program, available online via
subscription or direct download, is designed to provide a personal,
behind the scenes look at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. This is
also the first National Park Service podcast in the Pacific Northwest to
be featured on iTunes, a podcatching client.

The podcast is designed to enhance the listener's visit to the site by
providing compelling background information, history, stories, and
anecdotes that shed additional light on park resources, activities and
programs. Conversations with staff members, visitors, park partners and
many of the site*s 400 volunteers will take listeners on an intimate
journey and help show why this urban national park - with its historic
buildings and landscapes, expansive recreational opportunities,
reconstructed 1840*s fur trade stockade, dozens of interpretive
programs and special events, and a collection of over 2 million
artifacts - is relevant today, drawing nearly 900,000 visitors a year.

The first episode features a behind the scenes look at the park's
historic weapons programs. In it, park ranger Bill DeBerry and park
guide Doug Halsey detail the planning, activities and training behind
the "boom" and "crack" of the park's popular musket, rifle, cannon, and
howitzer firings. Additional episodes will be released each month.

The podcast can be accessed online through the park website or iTunes.
At the podcast's park website
(www.nps.gov/fova/photosmultimedia/fort-vancouver-podcast.htm),
visitors can choose to subscribe to the RSS feed and have the episodes
sent directly to their computer, or they can download the MP3 file
directly from the website. The podcast is also available as a free
download through Apple's online iTunes Store. Enter "Fort Vancouver
Podcast" into the iTunes search engine or click on the link to iTunes
from the park webpage.

"From archaeologists analyzing latest finds to volunteer blacksmiths
creating essential tools, from rangers crafting new programs and events
to museum staff describing fascinating artifacts, this podcast will help
listeners learn much about their national park," explained Greg Shine,
the park's chief ranger and historian,  "and hopefully help them forge
their own, personal connection to this very special and significant
site."
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Oregon Heritage News is a service of the Oregon Heritage Commission,
which can be contacted at heritage.info at state.or.us