Los eventos de State College destacan la historia, el teatro y la música

“…America — God, mend thy every flaw,

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Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.” –“America the Beautiful,” Katherine Lee Bates

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Memorial Day is a sacred time when we remember those “who gave their last full measure of devotion.” In 1863, three events turned the tide of the Civil War from a Confederate victory to a Union triumph: the battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg and the sacrifice of nearly 200,000 U.S. Colored Troops, mostly ex-enslaved people, who volunteered to replace the depleted Union forces. My great-great grandfather was one of those.

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In October of 1864, Boalsburg residents Emma Hunter, Sophie Keller and Elizabeth Myers placed flowers on the graves of their departed veteran loved ones, initiating a ritual that has continued to this day. This year, the Boalsburg Village Historical Society welcomed hundreds of fellow citizens to the Boalsburg Cemetery. Arthur H. Reede was Master of Ceremonies. The invocation and benediction was given by Pastor David Pencek of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Snydertown. Roger Williams, president of Centre County Historical Society, gave the keynote address, “Boalsburg and the Keeping of Historical Memory.”

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The women of Battery B laid a memorial wreath, while reenactors from Battery B fired a cannon salute. The State High Chamber Singers performed the national anthem, “America the Beautiful,” and “Abide With Me,” which was often sung at funerals during the Civil War. Tracy Moriarty played the bagpipe anthem and Abby Jones played taps.

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At the Boal Barn theater, Class Act Productions, under the direction of Abigail Bourne, presented four performances of “For You, The Keeping of Liberty.” The series of historical vignettes celebrated a walk through history and the “passion of those who have gone before.” The play featured: Josie Kroeker, Loreli Ervine, Alanna Krol, Audrey Booz, Kirsten Fillmann, Eleanor Gravelle, Annie Roberg, Arielle Toumayants, Noel Conrad, Hannah Marella, Lia Booz, Mara Lange, Michael Madeira, Daniel Rhoads, Ash Toumayants, Joshua Bourne, Grame Lee, Nathan Tack, Peter Barker, Heidi Tooley, Mary Bourne, Noelle Toumayants, Priscilla McFerren, Abby Clark, Joshua Booz, Ethan Krol, Lisa Madeira, Aidan Tooley, Mark Rothgeb, Haddon Lee, Gail Amaismeier and James Bourne. All four shows were sold out.

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Elsewhere around town

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The East End Social Block Party held its ribbon cutting on Hiester Street in downtown State College on Thursday evening.

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“Graves on Indian Lane,” a short documentary film, was shown at Schlow Library by Matt Maris, Matt Jacobs and Pablo Lopez. The film told the story of two Revolutionary War soldiers, Private Thomas Van Doran and Corporal Jacob Shadecre, who were killed on July 24, 1778, in a skirmish with indigenous warriors. The showing was sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Happy Valley Film Commission.

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On Saturday, May 30, the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra will present the Nittany Performing Arts Centre Showcase from 11:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the PSU School of Music and the Playhouse Theatre. Admission is free. Also on Saturday, from noon to 2 p.m., the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm will sponsor an engagement event at the farm to “highlight the powerful intersection of student leadership, experimental learning and food access initiatives which benefit PSU students.”

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WPSU will host a community premiere for its new documentary “The Whiskey Rebellion: The Shaping of a Nation” on Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. at The State Theatre.

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Pastor Jeremy Richards and the University Baptist and Brethren Church hosted “Can Christianity Save Democracy?” Following the presentation by Jonathan Rauch, senior fellow, Brookings Institute, there was a lively panel discussion led by Pastor Richards, Rabbi David Ostrich, Rev. Sarah Malone, Pastor Renee Ford of the Albright-Bethune United Methodist Church and Rev. Ben Wideman, University Mennonite Church.

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Stay strong. We are not alone.

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Charles Dumas is a lifelong political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party’s nominee for the U.S. Congress in 2012. He is a Lions Paw honoree. He lives in State College with his wife and partner of over 50 years.