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<\/a><\/p>\nMy task was to find the gain elevators that were identified on the cards in the box that I was given. I had to collect samples of wheat and try to get additional information, such as how the harvest was going, how much longer they expected to be getting in wheat – or when they expected to start – and things like that. I also got to give out the “thank you gift.” This year it was a small tape measure. The women I gave them to seemed to see the value of it. Some of the guys were disappointed not to be receiving the small pocket knife like they had gotten in other years.<\/p>\n
Some days, I just found a motel and \u00a0settled in for the night. Not every place has things to see and do. One night, I got a room near Sedalia and headed into town to see what I could see.<\/p>\n
I parked near that courthouse and took a stroll to see what the people of Sedalia considered to be worth memorializing.<\/p>\n I liked this plaque that they had right in front of it, with all the important dates included.<\/p>\n First I walked up to the doughboy memorial, which now honors WW I,<\/p>\n WW II,<\/p>\n more WW II,<\/p>\n More WW I soldiers, along with Vietnam and Korea.<\/p>\n I like this view from the rear of the statue. It looks more dynamic.<\/p>\n I found it interesting that the artist copyrighted his work. I was frustrated that I couldn’t\u00a0make out his name. With just a few clicks in the search bar, I found a website<\/a> that gave me the name of the artist: Walter Rylander.<\/p>\n I wondered if there are more of Rylander’s\u00a0doughboy statues around the country? Well, yes, there are! In addition to Sedalia, there is one in Bolivar, Missouri, St. Bernard, Ohio, and Muskogee, Oklahoma. Oddly enough, these statues were the original work of E.M. Viquesney<\/a>, who sold the company to Rylander, who owned the copyright for a few years. According to the website<\/a>, roughly 10% of the United States WW I memorials are based on Mr. Viquesney’s statue. According to my Preferred Source, there are still about 140 of his statues in 38 different states.<\/p>\n I continued with my exploration and came upon this eternal flame dedicated to all the Pettis Countians, living and dead, who served in the Armed Forces of the United States.<\/p>\n Appropriately\u00a0enough, it was sponsored by the American Legion.<\/p>\n At the corner of the block was a memorial to the county courthouse that burned down in 1920.<\/p>\n I wonder if these columns were part of the original courthouse.<\/p>\n The war dogs were also honored. It made me smile that their memorial was placed infant of the Fox Theater. I wonder if they were thinking of the dogs chasing the foxes when they placed it. Or, did it just turn\u00a0out that way?<\/p>\n They are fairly up to date with their memorials.<\/p>\n Here is the Vietnam Memorial.<\/p>\n I assume this bench was part of the memorial. In any event, it is a nice, practical addition to the collection of memorials.<\/p>\n Memorial bricks edged the sidewalk.<\/p>\n They didn’t have any of those old-timey cannons that so many places have on display, but there was this piece of ordnance. In my notes, I have it identified as “Big Gun.” I am sure that there is a more accurate name for it.<\/p>\n Across the street from the Big Gun was an interesting site. The sign reads, “On this site, August 10, 1899, Scott Joplin signed the contract for John Stark to publish \u00a0The Maple Leaf Rag<\/strong><\/em>. Joplin almost instantly gained fame as the King of Ragtime<\/strong> and the famous royalty contract enabled his classic composition to ultimately sell over a million copies and make Sedalia, Missouri a place where America’s music began.”<\/p>\n Scott Joplin is truly a favorite son in these parts.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n