Honest Abe on freeing the slaves

MEEKER I Students of Kristen Henderson’s and Pat Ibach’s fifth-grade classes at Meeker Elementary School, as well as Barone Middle School and Meeker High School students were delighted by John Voehl’s portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, one of America’s greatest presidents, on Feb. 19.
Voehl also presented a community show the night before at Meeker High School. The appearances were sponsored by the Meeker Arts and Cultural Council (MACC) and Nancy Sturgeon of the Meeker Hotel and the Rio Blanco County Historical Society (RBCHS) sponsored the presentation.
Grant funding for the events wasgenerously provided by the White River Electric Association and the Meeker Lions Club as well as private donors.
Those who may have seen Steven Spielberg’s film “Lincoln,” which received the Academy Award for Best Actor (Daniel Day Lewis) were especially appreciative of this live performance as Voehl emphasized the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves, in his theme to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of that document and of Lincoln’s presidency.
The fifth-grade students will be impersonating their own famous person for their Annual Night at the MES Museum, scheduled for April 10.
Voehl’s presentation to them included some extra time spent on training to “become” the famous person they have been studying.
Henderson and Ibach agree the opportunity was unsurpassed for the students.