Friday digest: remembering the 38

On this day in 1862, 38 Dakota men were hanged in Mankato, the largest single public execution in American history. For an exploration of the rushed proceedings that lead to their being found guilty, click here. A general account of the 1862 war can be found here. KEYC-TV looked at one remembrance in Riders Honor Decades Old Tragedy, while the Mankato Free Press covered the ride and today's ceremonies in the Key City in Dakota ride finishes four-year cycle,

The Star Tribune looks at an art exhibit, States, Dates, and Place, which recalls the bitter incident:

Inspired by the 150th anniversary of Minnesota statehood, "States" asserts the primacy of Indians in Minnesota, recalls broken treaties and the bitter hanging of 38 Indians at Mankato in 1862. A valuable counterpoint to official sesquicentennial celebrations, the show is more educational than confrontational, with flashes of ironic humor and quiet dignity.

In the Albert Lea Tribune article, Freeborn County DFL Party leaders have busy year, we read about the service of Art Anderson who served a national convention delegate and an presidential elector.

And as if all of those experiences weren’t enough, in January, thanks to being an elector, the couple will get the chance to go to Obama’s inauguration.

“It’s something we won’t do in our lifetime again,” Art said

Art, who is in his mid-70s, considers himself lucky that he’s been able to take such an active role in the political process locally and nationally.

One person who was invited to Washington, but couldn't afford the trip to the Bush White House is Owatonna's Christine Robbins, according to Owatonna teen invited to White House for ornament design". The Owatonna People's Press reports:

Christine Robbins does not consider herself an artist.

The sophomore at Owatonna High School is not enrolled in any art classes and she’s unsure whether she’ll sign up for any in the near future.

But on a whim, and after some convincing from her former teacher Todd Andrix, 15-year-old Christine entered a contest in November to design a Christmas ornament to hang on the Christmas tree at the White House.

Little did she know that she would be one of hundreds of other designers around the country ranging in ages from 9 to 92 who would have their ornament actually hanging on the tree. ...

. . .The ornament she had to design was a bulb provided by the White House and the theme had to be red, white and blue. Andrix came up with the idea to highlight the Minnesota sesquicentennial and include its logo.

Mary Jo Robbins, Christine’s mother, said she had about a week to work on the contest. Christine hadn’t heard of the contest until Andrix approached her and asked her to participate.

“I wouldn’t have personally chosen to do it but it was Mr. Andrix who contacted me to do it first,” Christine said.

The family sent it to the White House. Mary Jo said they hadn’t received any notice that it would be featured until the Friday after Thanksgiving when someone from the White House contacted them and invited them to the unveiling of the tree.

“It was very exciting for her,” she said.

The only catch, however, was that the family was not able to make it to the unveiling. And afterward, Christine had forgotten about it. Andrix asked during the first week in December if she had any more information.

Andrix, she said, especially didn’t want her to give up and got her more interested in making a quick trip even if it was just for two days to see her ornament on the tree.

“It was just too short of notice to plan a trip that quickly and then come home so quickly,” Christine said.

Andrix then spent some time after school on Dec. 8 looking for any donations to purchase two plane tickets. The cost was about $1,500.

Andrix said Monday they weren’t able to find someone to pay for the trip itself. The closest they got was from someone who offered frequent flyer miles, enough for one free trip. . . .

Earlier, BSP had errored in reporting, based on information at the White House Christmas website crediting Andrix with the ornament. We'll fix the original post.

Another young woman in Southern Minnesota was more fortunate. The Fairmont Sentinel reports in White (House) Christmas wows:

A Red, White and Blue Christmas" - celebrating the patriotic spirit that unites Americans - is the theme for 2008's White House holiday decorations.

It's fitting that Neal Breitbarth and his daughter, Becky, were among the 60,000 guests touring the White House this season, considering the devotion the family has shown throughout the years to the nation and the Republican Party.

"Everything is just beautiful," Neal said, recalling the difficulty he had leaving the White House last Thursday. "... Having been there with my daughter, it was really moving - one of those memories that will last forever."

Becky, 21, was invited to attend the Holiday Open House for her role in the Republican National Committee during the convention in St. Paul, campaigning this fall and the Minnesota Senate recount. . .

. . ."It was a trip of a lifetime," said Neal.

His reaction is precisely the reason Becky chose her father - an active member of the Republican Party as a First District delegate and former First District chairman - to accompany her since she could only bring one person.

"I wanted to choose someone who I knew it would mean something to," Becky said. "... My dad's been bringing me to events my whole life, especially political events, so it was time I returned the favor." . . .