Jefferson residents in the Kelso Park neighborhood may hear unusual noises Wednesday afternoon, April 8, as 25 Greene County high school students will learn what life was like for a soldier during the American Civil War.
Civil War reenactors David Burkett and OJ Fargo will teach and “drill” 25 students in Dena Boyd’s Iowa history class. The afternoon is an extension of the students’ study of the 32 schoolboy soldiers of Rippey. Students will dress, march, eat and camp like a soldier, and will have an opportunity to shoot a Civil War era musket. (Only blanks will be shot, not projectiles.)
The camp will be set up near the playground at Kelso Park. The soccer field will be used for marching drills. Reenactors will begin setting up at about noon, with the students there from 1:30 to 3 pm.
Members of the Schoolboy Soldiers of Rippey committee will be present, as well as a film crew and producer from Iowa PBS.
