Atchinson, KS-Ninety Nines-Benedictine Abbey

June 21, 2008
Kathy was up early so went into Walmart and tried on a bunch of clothes thinking about what to wear on our Russia trip. When Will got up we headed over to the Forest of Friendship for the World Friendship Event held each year by the Ninety Nines, a group of women aviators started by Amelia Earhart. The Parade of Flags started about 10am. The boy and girl scouts of Atchinson came out to carry the flags; we watched as they marched around the forest to the proper state or country tree where they placed the flag. Everywhere there is a chapter of the 99s in the world, there is a tree to represent it. After the parade and opening came the introduction of distinguished guests and Memory Lane Honorees. Time was taken so that each honoree was presented with an award and posed for pictures. We would suggest they get a drama student from the local college to read the bios or maybe the sponsors so that one person is not responsible for reading all of them. We drank lemonade, watched the magic show and Kathy gave Smoky the Bear a hug. To sponsor your aviation enthusiast for next year’s award send in a biography and picture along with $350 to help defray the cost of the the granite plaque to IFF, 913 Main Street, Atchinson, KS 66002.

We past a celebration going on in one of the many city parks and later found out it was a Juneteenth Party, a celebration of when the last slave was freed.

St. Benedict College was on top of the hill overlooking the Mossouri River. Brothers from St. Vincent Abbey in Latrobe went out in groups of ten or so and it was in that way that others like St. Benedict here in Atchinson was formed. St. Benedict’s Abbey is a Catholic monastic community of men who live s brothers of the Lord seeking God through Jesus Christ. We walked around comparing it with other early 1950s architecture. Then we went down to the gallery where Judi Geer Kellas was having an art show of her Celebration of Flight: Women in aviation collection of more than 40 paintings, drawings and prints. She began her works in 1996, the Centennial of the Birth of Amelia Earhart. It was at that time that she learned about the Ninety-Nines, a group of women aviators. She has great stories to tell of the many women in aviation she has either met or researched. We sipped wine and munched little squares of fruit. Jackie, the lady from the Chamber of Commerce was also in attendance and we chatted a bit about how nice the city is and how we have been here so long we might just have to buy a house! The Abbot told us that houses were for sale as the College is building a dorm so all the rental property is for sale.

Judi uses mixed medi work in a series of collages that feature one or more heroines from the history of aviation. Kathy recognized not only Amelia Earhart, but also Patty Wagstaff a world reknown aerobatics pilot and Olive Ann Beech, the first lady of aviation and cofounder of Beech Aircraft Corporation. There is a lot of history in the collection, not just from the art work, but from the stories Judi shared during the show. We enjoyed a glass of wine and some fruits as we looked over the artwork. It was an enjoyable afternoon. Check her out at http://www.geerkellas.com/

We found an event going on where we do our wifi down town, but no guests. There were games set up, a group playing and workers ready, but no one to enjoy the festivities. We made our way back to the river where we enjoyed dinner and watching the river.

We have been exploring our Sirrius Radio. We found the family channels and have listened to the Lone Ranger and other radio stories. NPR has also caught our attention. The radio is now on like, all day.
St. Benedictine Abbey
Missouri River
Siberian Flag



Judi Geer Kellas