Bloomfield, Missouri - Librarian, Erin Hoffman, had an idea.  Take students to the Stars & Stripes Museum in Bloomfield, Missouri.  With the help of Bernie 4th grade teachers, Edna Smith and Haley Baker they loaded up 34 students on a bus and made their way to the museum Wednesday afternoon.

The students were mesmerized by the war memorabilia behind glass cases throughout the building.  "Where did all this stuff come from?" one student asked.  Mrs. Sue Mayo who is the archivist and librarian at the museum answered, "It all came from donations from many good people, including veterans, war heroes and people who worked for the Stars & Stripes newspaper."

Each student listened intently as Mrs. Mayo explained how a young Union Soldier with Col. Richard Oglesby's 8th Illinois Infantry regiment took possession of an abandoned printing office in 1861.  "Those Union soldiers were marching with Ulysses S. Grant!" she proclaimed.

"The little newspaper rolled off the presses right here in Bloomfield, Missouri," Mrs. Mayo stated, "and it was dubbed Stars and Stripes." And as history goes only a few copies were printed.  The soldiers were told told to read it and pass it on to a buddy and they did just that.

The Stars and Stripes is still being printed today, but no longer in Bloomfield, Missouri.  The museum is a testament to the historical value of how a little newspaper printed in the middle of the night started a tradition still in existence today.  Many soldiers all over the world still receive and enjoy reading this newspaper.

If you have not had a chance to check out a local historical site you should do so, it is free to the public.  There is also an extensive library available to those who would like to research the military.

For more information contact the Stars and Stripes Museum at 573-568-2055.  The museum is open Monday - Saturday and is a great place to bring your family, students or Sunday school class.