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Raid on Montgomery Remembered This article appeared in Northeast Suburban Life on April 16, 2003

By Jeremy D. Johnston
Staff Reporter

	A teaser of the painting Mort Künstler created that will be unveiled on April 28 at the Universalist Church in Montgomery. It includes two historical landmarks located in the city.

Students at Montgomery Elementary are painting stripes on pieces of old barn wood to make them look like American flags from 1863.

Parents are making the wooden flags, approximately the size of real-estate signs.

Owners of historic landmark buildings are having the flags placed on their property.

This is part of a city-wide participation to celebrate and commemorate Ohio's Bicentennial April 26, and Montgomery is making the most of it.

"This is a day of celebration," resident and historic preservationist Kaye Gaffney said. "A celebration for the painting."

Gaffney is referring to is the Civil War painting that was inspired by the city of Montgomery.

After conducting a seven-site tour of Ohio, he chose Montgomery to be the location for his painting, with the Universalist Church being the backdrop.

Künstler will sign 100 of his limited edition prints from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the church. His artwork will also be on display inside the church.

"The entire city is really excited about the fact we were chosen as the site," Assistant City Manager Mike Haverland, who helped organize the events for the day, said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and event."

Haverland added that the word is when Künstler saw the church, he was immediately taken back to that time and felt a connection.

"When they see the painting, people will understand why he was taken with this location and moment," he said. The day will also include visitations from four Civil War expert speakers, who will talk about the Morgan's Raiders to the history of Civil War surgery practices.

There will also be a Morgan's Raiders re-enactment, where the actors will set up camp Friday night and residents will be serving them dinner.

Local author Lester Horwitz, who wrote the book The Longest Raid in the Civil War will also be there to sign his book.

For more information, visit www.ci.montgomery.oh.us.

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