By Sue Moore
The Revolutionary War separated the American colonies from Great Britain and began the country’s journey toward individual rights and democratic government. The Vicksburg Historical Society is sponsoring the “Battle of Sunset Lake”, using re-enactors from the 1770s coming to the village on June 25 and 26 to re-create a part of this history.
For those in the community who would like a spirited refresher course in the events leading up to the “shot heard around the world” in 1775, David and Kristina Powers Aubry are teaching a class on the Revolutionary War period. It will be held at the Vicksburg District Library on four consecutive Tuesday afternoons, February 9, 16, 23, and March 1, under the auspices of the Western Michigan University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).
The definition for the course in the OLLI catalog prepared by the Aubrys reads, “The American revolution is, generally, taught in very narrow terms, i.e., we all wanted to be free of British rule, so we had a war and won. Events that resulted in the Revolutionary War were much more complex, beginning in 1604, involving people and developments covering half the globe. This class will explain how European conflicts and rulers, economics, arts, science and the people of the 17th and 18th centuries formed the framework that led, inevitably, to the American Revolution and its success.”
The Aubrys are well known to south county residents for their volunteer work with the Vicksburg Historical Society and the Vicksburg Rotary Club of which David is president this year. He taught for 37 years in the Paw Paw school system. Kristina served as an educational media specialist at KVISD, now KRESA, under the tutelage of Warren Lawrence.
The couple have spent many years studying and researching 18th century American history and have contributed their talents generously to the Historical Society. “Their class will be a great way to refresh our knowledge of the formative years of America, and help us anticipate the huge Revolutionary War re-enactment that will be coming to the village in June,” according to Ted Vliek, president of the Historical Society.
It is not too late to enroll online at http://www.wmich.edu/olli. The cost is $40 for OLLI members and $80 for non-members. Call 269-387-4200 for further information or stop in at the Vicksburg library for the winter OLLI catalog.