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Back in time

Elementary and junior high students from across the area got a lesson in history at John A. Logan College on Wednesday, during the school's 12th Annual Civil War Days. This year's event helped to celebrate the 155th anniversary of the Civil War.

Barry Hancock, Dean for Community Education, said that the event started as a way to honor the school's namesake, Civil War hero General John A. Logan.

"We started this out years ago as a lecture series, where we were bringing in speakers, authors, that kind of thing," Hancock said. "Over the years, it's evolved into kind of a 'Living History,' with school children and many people from the public."

General John A. Logan served in the Mexican-American War, as a Union Army General in the Civil War, an Illinois State Senator and Congressman, as well as a U.S. Senator. Logan was also a candidate for Vice President of the United States.

Students spend the day learning from Civil War reenacts about the duties of a medical doctor, the life of a soldier, how to fire a cannon, and other aspects of life from the Civil War period. Roughly 500 students, teachers, and members of the public visited JALC on Wednesday.

"Students really enjoy this, most of them pay very close attention and it's very well received by the teachers," Hancock said. "We think it's important from the college's view, because the more people we can get on campus at a younger age, the better we'll be in the future."

Marc Henshaw, band teacher at Harrisburg Middle School, said that this was the first year for HMS to attend the Civil War Days.

"It's very interesting, I'm learning a lot and I think the kids are too," Henshaw said.

"It seems like a pretty interesting hands-on learning experience."

"It's kind of interesting, what they (students) do and don't know about the Civil War in terminology, and how a lot of it goes over their head because they don't know what a lot of common things were called in a different era," Henshaw joked.

With more than 500 guests in attendance, Hancock said that the school was open to the possibility of making the event last more than one day, but it would depend on scheduling with teachers and reenacts.