Graves’s column

by State Sen. Sam Graves

Thursday, Oct. 21, was Missouri Day. It is a day that was set aside by an act of the Legislature in 1915, after the idea was brought to lawmakers by a Missouri citizen from our own Senatorial District, Anna Broslus Korn of Grundy County.

Ms. Korn was a school teacher and a member of the Missouri Historical Society. She was so impressed with the attributes of our great state and the contributions of Missourians to our nation and the entire world that she took it upon herself to get the Legislature to pass a law commemorating a special day in honor of our state.

As a result of her efforts, the third Thursday of every October is designated as Missouri Day under RSMo 9.040. It directs this day be set apart as a day commemorative of Missouri history to be observed by the teachers and pupils of schools with the appropriate exercises.

It is interesting to note that October was chosen as the month because of a quote from Mark Twain, who wrote that “Missouri is at its best in October.” The date was originally set as Oct. 1, which was the date of the founding of Jefferson City as the seat of state government in 1826. The date was later changed to the third Thursday, instead of a specific day of the month, so school children would always be in class to mark this special day.

The heritage of our state is certainly worth celebrating. Missouri is one of the most unique and fascinating of the 50 states and has done as much as any state to contribute to the building of our great nation.

Missouri voted to become a state in 1821 but was the only state to have a constitution approved and elect a governor and a legislature before actually being granted statehood. A debate over slavery in the U.S. Congress caused the unique delay that in effect made Missouri a state without a nation until August 10, 1821, when President James Monroe signed the ordination of statehood for Missouri.

Missouri wasted little time in shaping our nation’s history. Missouri was the starting point for the Oregon Trail and the Sante Fe Trail settlers used as part of America’s Manifest Destiny of Westward Expansion.

The Civil War was waged furiously here. The Legislature voted to join the Confederacy. The state was placed under federal control by the federal commander in St. Louis. Border wars with Kansas raged. From those conflicts came famous characters like Jesse James, Belle Starr, Cole Younger, Sam Hildebran and Bloody Bill Anderson.

Later, Wild Bill Hickock and Jane Canary — better known as Calamity Jane — linked Missouri to our nation’s popular history.

The Pony Express, which started in St. Joseph, later brought the first rapid communications concept to America. Perhaps we could say that the communications age began here — on horseback — from St. Joseph.

It was timber from Missouri that built the Panama Canal that for the first time joined the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It was lead from Missouri mines that was used to win both World War I and

World War II.

In these wars, Missourians also distinguished themselves not just as soldiers, but as great leaders. Black Jack Pershing, who led the American Expeditiary Forces to Europe in 1917, was from Missouri. So was Omar Bradley, one of the top Allied Commanders of World War II.

Missouri also has contributed greatly to the culture of our nation and art and music enjoyed around the world.

Mark Twain is the most famous American author. He was from Hannibal. Scott Joplin, the great ragtime pianist, and Charlie “Bird” Parker, the great jazz saxophonist, were from Missouri.

Walter Cronkite, the legendary newsman, Walt Disney, the great cartoonist, and actors and actresses including Kathleen Turner, Don Johnson of Miami Vice and Brad Pitt all came from our state.

Missouri is a great state, with great people and resources. On Missouri Day, we celebrate not just our state and its proud heritage, but also the tradition that will continue to make the contributions

of Missouri and her citizens essential to the future of our nation and our world.