Today, April 18, 2026, Henry Leavenworth participated in the 2026 edition of Patriot Days in McLouth.
This is the 25th year anniversary of this event in McLouth, memorializing the Shot Heard Round the World in Lexington/Concord 250 years ago on April 19th.
This was also an America’s 250th Event.
Festivities started off with a children’s parade, highlighted by a few dozen youngsters speed peddling their bikes and scooters down the street.
That was followed up by the local Cub Scout Pack 81 Pine Car Derby.
The event announcer told people in the audience about the Henry Leavenworth SAR and several times mentioned our July special new membership sale discount.
The three of us, Jerry Gross, Dennis Wise and Rob Lofthouse set up a table to share the Patriot Chest contents, talk with people about their ancestry and give them opportunities to scan the QR Code to link up with the National SAR to begin exploring their ancestry. A handful of men and women took us up on our offer.
For our display, the McLouth Public Library graciously lent us a folding table.
Proclamations recognizing this event were read from the Kansas Governor and Mayor of McLouth.
What would any small-town parade be without law enforcement up front with their lights flashing and sirens blaring? This parade was proudly led by the Kansas State Color Guard trooping the colors, Colonial representatives carrying a Betsy Ross Flag, a walking flag of four ladies, a trailer carrying all 50-state flags, an American Legion band playing patriotic music, a submarine, fire trucks, classic cars with families, friends and all kinds of kids, politicians, soldiers marching, and horses bringing up the rear.
In conclusion, a WWII Re-enactment team gave a demonstration with three American GI’s encountering two German soldiers and having a shootout on Main St. They also gave demonstrations of the various rifles they carried to show the superiority our M-1 had over the bolt-action German rifle in use for that period.
And that wasn’t all! What normally happens after a parade? The participants and audience get to eat! McLouth Kiwanis hosted a post-parade feed where all SAR participants were treated to a free meal that included pulled pork, hot dogs, potato salad, BBQ beans, a pickle spear, all kinds of scrumptious frosted cakes, tea, lemonade and water.
A good time was had by all!