Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation set to meet

The Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation is having a meeting and field trip in Spokane this weekend. Robert Heacock, secretary and membership chairman for the Washington state chapter, said it’s the first time in almost 10 years the organization is meeting in Spokane.

“We usually meet somewhere along the Columbia River or in Portland or someplace like that,” Heacock said. “I’ve been trying to persuade them to come to Spokane for a long time, and finally, here we are.”

The weekendlong event begins at the Sacagawea statue in the lobby of Eastern Washington University’s Showalter Hall in Cheney at 10 a.m. on Saturday. A social hour there is leading up to the chapter board meeting at 11 a.m.

At 2 p.m. the group reconvenes at Greenwood Memorial Terrace, 211 N. Government Way, to visit the grave of Ben Bierney, grandson of Sgt. Patrick Gass, who was part of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

At 3 p.m. the group meets up at Fairmont Memorial Association’s flag museum building, 5200 W. Wellesley Ave., to listen to a presentation by John Caskey, a nationally known flag expert, who will give a presentation about the Lewis and Clark flag.

Saturday’s program ends with “Sah-gah-gar we a: Stories, Statues and Symbols,” a presentation by historian and chapter president Barb Kubik about Sacagawea leading up to the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Sacagawea’s reported death.

“Barb Kubik is a marvelous presenter; we are really looking forward to this,” Heacock said. Kubik’s presentation is at 7:30 p.m. at Spokane Falls Community College, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive, Building 18, Room 129.

The 200th anniversary of Sacagawea’s reported death will be commemorated in Fort Pierre, S.D., Sept. 28-30.

On Sunday the group meets at 10 a.m. at the Spokane House Interpretive Center just off Highway 291, 9711 W. Charles Road, in Nine Mile Falls. A State Park Discovery Pass is required for this event.

Heacock said all meetings and presentations are free.

“People are welcome to show up to one or more of them,” Heacock said. “No tickets or registration is needed.”