Oct '06 Work Day at Hollingsworth Cemetery

Three members (Dirk Stapleton, Gary Martin, and myself) and one associate (Bill Flynn) of Westport Camp #64, Department of Missouri, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War worked the better part of the day on 28 Oct 2006 removing weeds and saplings that have sprung up since the first day spent clearing brush and trees (see "Day of Clearing").

The current goal is to remove the old iron fence for two reasons. The first reason is to make it easier to get to the tree stumps in order to remove them with whatever means possible. With the stumps removed, it will be much easier to level the earth in and around the cemetery. The second reason for removing the fence is so we can see if a blacksmith would be willing and able to restore it. There are several missing pieces including two of the five cornerposts. and some of the rails, hairpins, and pickets.

With the ground leveled, it will be much simpler to set the markers where they belong at the head of the graves. Supposedly there were, at one time, other headstones within this cemetery. As mentioned before, there was a footstone found, believed to be a marker for Susan Hollingsworth, but without the last initial, it is difficult to tell.

First 5k Run

I participated in my first 5k run in the 2006 Kansas City Marathon yesterday morning (7 Oct 2006). My only complaint was that it was very early and a little on the frigid side, but other than that I had a good time running with a co-worker. We finished with a 9:27 per mile pace for a final time of 29:21. My goal was to finish with less than a 10:00 per mile pace. I made it!

I was one of 275 males and 778 participants in the 5k. The average finish time was 39:48. I finished 260 out of the entire group of 778 runners; 148 out of the 275 males; and 14 out of 22 in my age bracket.

Immediately after the race, I drove to the Truman Sports Complex and walked 2.5 miles for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), a worthwhile cause.