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AMS students discover Civil War history
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Ron Kyser (left) shared his large collection of Civil War weapons and artifacts with the students of Austintown Middle School, letting them touch and explore the weapons freely.
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Jim Mills (right) showed off some of the battlefield formations of Union soldiers to the students during the Civil War event.
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Jazmine Dandridge (left) was amazed to discover the substantial weight of the Civil War sword she held during the event.
By SARAH FOOR
The year 2011 officially marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. On May 26, Austintown Middle School social studies teacher Ron Johnson brought a few fellow members of the volunteer 105th Ohio Infantry Reenactors to teach AMS students about the turning point in American history.
That morning, the school’s front courtyard was transformed into a Civil War camp, with reenactors manning tents similar to those used in the war and a table of real war artifacts and weapons.
Jim Mills, an Austintown resident, kept his post near the battle tent and was responsible for telling AMS students about the daily life of an Ohio Infantry soldier. Mills has been a reenactor for 12 years and his great-great-grandfather was a soldier in the actual 105th Ohio Infantry during the war.
Mills said he is passionate about teaching a part of our collective history.
“When I began participating in battles, I was surprised how intricate the movements of the soldiers and the armies really were — they were almost like a dance. If we don’t teach those to each generation, they will be lost. As a reenactor, I’m working to keep the artistry of it all from going away,” Mills explained.
Ron Kyser manned a table that displayed his extensive collection of historical weapons from the war. He also has a passion for teaching younger generations about the Civil War.
“People who see my collection tell me I’m crazy for letting the kids pick up and explore the weapons, but I think it’s absolutely necessary. Being able to feel all that history in your hands really brings the reality of the war into clear view, in a way that is very powerful,” Kyser shared.