by Michael Cruz on 2016-02-10
If you are a local who hasn't had the opportunity to meet the director of the A.K. Smiley Public Library, who also serves on the board of directors of the Redlands Community Foundation, and the National Lincoln Forum, and a member of the Noon Kiwanis Club, meet Don McCue. He holds the keys to Lincoln’s legacy right here in Redlands.
With Feb. 12, Lincoln’s birthday, right around the bend, McCue, a man who wears many hats is constantly sought after for many local historical projects, especially those highlighting Lincoln. McCue is currently participating in the early fundraising stage of the future Redlands Historical Museum.
Before all of this, McCue studied history and foreign policy and earned his masters in Washington D.C. at Johns Hopkins University where he visited many museums open to the public. Studying in Virginia meant that many of the Civil War battlegrounds where only a few hours away, which he shares he would often frequent.
Once while overlooking the battlefield of Antietam he wondered to himself and questioned the tactics used at Burnsides Bridge during the Civil War battle, “Why didn’t they cross the creek and why did they waste time trying to take the bridge.” So he and a friend took this question into their own hands and attempted to cross the creek to find out for themselves.
His life-long hands-on approach to history caught the eye of others and led him to his current role as the library director and archivist curator of the A.K. Smiley Library, which he has held for 30 years. Turning learning tangible is a tradition he has used to portray many of the pieces within the shrine to attending museum guests.
This insightful learning experience aided by the efforts of McCue draw you in, “The deeper you get, learning about that time period, about Abraham Lincoln the more there is to admire. There is a reason why people from both the left and the right cite him.”
The ideals of Lincoln are a unifying construct that has resonated and influenced many over the years, one such individual in particular was Robert Watchorn.
Robert Watchorn was a poor immigrant coal miner in Pennsylvania who worked his way to better. Like Lincoln, he had a thirst for knowledge despite being denied a formal education and worked hard to climb his way to more favorable circumstances.
When Roberts son, Ewart, died from his injuries after World War I, the Watchorns donated the Lincoln Memorial Shrine in his memory. Robert Watchorn was inspired by Lincoln and summed up his sentiments by saying, “His is one of the finest spirits that ever came into the world… and he turned the currents of freedom into the souls of millions of fellow men.”
Books encased in walnut bookcases line the walls with topics on the Civil War and Reconstruction to Abraham Lincoln himself. McCue states, “He’s the quintessential American. I’ve always thought this is a pretty special country. We’re lucky to live here. This experiment in Democracy, this experiment to rule itself rather than being a monarchy.”
To rule itself, to be the master of one's own self, to be free to make life what you want it to be. Like McCue, Watchorn, and Lincoln, all pivotal characters whose choices affect those around them in the community of Redlands.
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine stands as a symbol of fortitude of character, the preservation of our history, and inspiration for the future. A house divided cannot stand, but a connected community can.
Experience it for yourself at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine.
Maybe you’ll be lucky and meet the living legend himself, Don McCue.
[END]
Other Possible Titles:
Lincolns Local Legacy
Lincoln Lives On
Lincoln Rumored to Run in 2016 Election.
Don McCue serves on the board of directors of the redlands community Foundation and national Lincoln forum.
Lincoln birthday febuary 12.
Need by 29.
(909) 798-7565
dmccue@akspl.org
Begin with Involvement in community and kiwanis
then w/ lincoln national forum
transition to Lincoln memorial shrine.
http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/social-affairs/20160102/retired-teacher-jerry-linkhart-hangs-banners-for-redlands-non-profits
Redlands evening Kiwanis member Jerry Linkhart hangs a Redlands Baseball for Youth banner over Citrus Avenue in downtown Redlands Dec. 10. Linkhart installs and takes down an average of two banners a month -- a volunteer service he provides to help his service club raise funds for youth scholarships. Photo by Tabetha Wittenmyer — Correspondent
REDLANDS >> Jerry Linkhart may have been raised in Tustin, but his heart is in Redlands. Linkhart moved to the area in 1967 when he transferred to the University of Redlands as a junior from Cal Western in San Diego.
“There may have been a girl involved,” said Linkhart of the move.
Linkhart graduated from the U of R with a degree in sociology and returned for a fifth year to get his teaching credential. He spent three years at Lugonia Elementary then 22 years at Smiley Elementary teaching Grades 4, 5 and 6.
“I was at Smiley so long, I started getting grand-students,” said Linkhart, who finished his career in 2005 after 10 additional years teaching social studies and woodshop at Orangewood High School.
In 1990, Linkhart was encouraged to join local service club, Redlands Evening Kiwanis.
“My wife’s secretary’s husband encouraged me to attend. He basically twisted my arm, but I joined happily and haven’t looked back,” said Linkhart.
“When I retired from Orangewood in 2005 I was very involved in Kiwanis. We had developed a great relationship with Orangewood and the club said to me, ‘Congratulations, you are now the liaison between the club and Orangewood,’ ” said Linkhart.
Linkhart said from that point on Kiwanis and Orangewood have completed several projects, including rock work to enhance the front of the multipurpose room, massive landscaping projects, building a sandlot volleyball course, pouring concrete pathways, painting and building shelves in the library.
“Orangewood continues to be Kiwanis’ primary project. It’s a key relationship for us as a club,” said Linkhart.
Like many other service clubs, Kiwanis members spend a majority of their efforts raising funds for educational scholarships for students. Because of Kiwanis’ tight bond with Orangewood, a majority of the scholarship money they raise goes to students of the continuation high school.
Over the years, Linkhart has made a huge contribution to these efforts in a creative way.
Redlands has two locations where street banners are hung advertising local nonprofit events: Citrus Avenue and Orange Street. Linkhart said there have been different individuals and groups over the years who have hung the banners for a small fee. When he heard about the opportunity, he jumped on the chance to use the service to raise scholarship funds.
“A few years back, the city decided you needed insurance to hang the banners and Kiwanis was the only one with the insurance for it. That made us the banner people in town and every cent of money we make putting up and taking down banners goes to the kids,” said Linkhart.
When the city of Redlands began its Hometown Heroes program under the direction of then Mayor Pro Tem Paul Foster, Linkhart was the go-to guy for the job. He also finds himself doing Christmas decorations and other seasonal signage, every time, climbing the ladder for the benefit of others.
Linkhart has safety measures, including assistant and fellow Kiwanian Gary Cross. He also has a special ladder with a self-made PVC pipe pole hugger to attach to round poles when hanging Hometown Heroes banners.
“I have a few different ladders. Hometown Heroes go pretty high on streetlights. Ladders are square and flat and don’t hug the pole very well so it slides to the right and left. I wear a safety belt for those and when it’s windy. There have been a few moments where it was just too windy and I had to tie a half-hung banner to the pole and leave until a better time,” said Linkhart.
Linkhart and his wife Clintie, also a retired Redlands Unified School District employee, are proud to call Redlands home.
“It’s a wonderful community. We love living here. Our house is by the Bowl and we hear the performers rehearsing in the summer. I find out more interesting things going on in Redlands because of the information posted on the banners I hang. Working with the people in non-profits to get these banners hung has allowed me to work with some of the nicest people in Redlands. We have it all, great people, great schools and a great community,” said Linkhart.