Did you love the movie Monuments Men? (Who didn’t?) Then you will definitely dig this!
Today the original Monuments Men are receiving the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their work to protect and recover historic sites and cultural artifacts during World War II. This is the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow.
Watch the live stream video of the ceremony here on Tumblr today at 1:00pm Mountain Time (3:00pm EST) or visit http://www.speaker.gov/live.
Twenty-two year old Rocky Ford, Colorado native, Robert D. Fulkerson served as a navigator aboard a Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” in the United States 8th Air Force during World War II. His flying career lasted only four days. On his fourth mission, 29 July 1944, Fulkerson’s plane “She Hasta” was shot down over the North Sea near Germany. He and some other members of the crew were captured in German-occupied Holland and made prisoners of war (POW). During captivity he was held in three POW camps known as stalags. His third camp, Stalag Luft VII, was located in Moosburg, Germany, about forty miles from Munich.
On Sunday morning, 29 April 1945, American fighter aircraft appeared overhead and armored vehicles in nearby hills. American GIs from General George Patton’s U.S. 3rd Army fought and overwhelmed the German defenders. Tanks crashed through the fences of the camp, liberating the POWs. Fulkerson’s longest mission, nine months as a prisoner of war, was over! Writing to his parents a few days later, he said, “Boy, did those G.I.s look good- Hubba, Hubba!” Robert “Bob” Fulkerson returned to Colorado, became a Doctor of Dentistry, served in the U.S. Air force Reserve and was active in POW reunions. He passed in 2006.
The Robert D. Fulkerson Collection (MSS02626) came to History Colorado in 2014 and is currently being arranged, described and cataloged and soon will be available for access through the Stephen H. Hart Library & Research Center. It contains photographs, correspondence, military service records and POW reunion material. Of particular interest is the POW correspondence between Bob and his family, numbering about seventy-five letters and post cards. Bob’s parents describe life on the home front through glimpses of everyday activity and news of friends. For his part, Bob describes camp life, activities available to POWs, news of letters and packages arrived and, in short, attempts to assure his parents he is okay and safe.
Daisies, Indian paintbrush, columbine, larkspur, lupine, geraniums, fairy slippers, bluebells, honeysuckle, violets, lilies and more! Just reading the names of Colorado’s wildflowers can inspire a sense of wonder and fill your senses with vibrant colors and a bouquet of scents. To see these fleeting treasures in person is an even greater reward. For this brief moment every year, Colorado wildflowers are popping up in valleys and on mountainsides near you. Be sure you don’t miss out on one of Colorado’s loveliest experiences!
If you’re looking for artistic renderings of these beautiful flowers, look no further than History Colorado. Our collection is fortunate to include a series of wildflower paintings by Mary Ann Hodgson Collins, which can be viewed here: h-co.org/collections. Mary moved from New York to Colorado in 1859 and settled in the state permanently in 1865 with her husband, Edward H. Collins. In Colorado, her passion for floral compositions and landscapes flourished, deriving much of her inspiration from the state’s beautiful natural environment. Surprisingly, she didn’t take her first art lesson in landscape painting until the age of 37, but it wasn’t long after that she began teaching art lessons. Talented and dedicated, Mary actively participated in the Denver art community, befriending female artists like herself. The paintings shown here are just a few flowers in a garden’s-worth of work.
Like Mary, today’s Coloradans have many unique opportunities to experience the natural splendor of the state’s local flora. Plant lovers, historians and aspiring botanists alike can enjoy wildflowers in full bloom at the Healy House and Dexter Cabin in Leadville all summer. In 1878, August R. Meyer commissioned the building of a Greek Revival clapboard masterpiece for his bride, Emma. The home has been restored and features a lavish interior full of artifacts from Leadville’s mining past, including items that belonged to Horace and Elizabeth “Baby Doe” Tabor. Under the care of Nellie Healy, the house became a boarding house complete with a croquet court in the lawn. The Healy House lawn and gardens have been restored so guests can wander through lush wildflowers, Victorian urns and exquisite statuary. The grandeur of the gardens, overflowing with lupine, mountain harebell and pentstemon, can be viewed from the gazebo.
Healy House, in conjunction with the Leadville Railroad, will be offering an additional opportunity for visitors to enjoy the wildflowers. On Saturday, August 1, guests can enjoy a morning train ride through the area’s thick woods and colorful meadows followed by a catered lunch at the Healy House, along with a guided tour of this elegant History Colorado house museum. For details and registration, go to http://www.leadville-train.com/special-tours or call 1-866-386-3936.
Though the blooms themselves are short-lived, they provide a powerful link to the past, as evidenced by their dependable yearly return. They remind us that our ancestors may have once enjoyed these very same floral scenes. Celebrating the blooms and blossoms gives us the chance to take a break from the day-to-day grind and appreciate the timeless, sophisticated beauty of something as ordinary as a daisy.
– Harold “Bud” Elliot - Director of the Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin
