F
Flying Dutchman
Guest
I am assuming most of you are familiar with Easter Heathman's story. If not Google - he is all over the internet. In a nutshell, Easter was a young lad living in Kansas back in 1931 when Rockne's plane crashed. He helped remove the bodies. For many years since, he has taken people to that forlorn piece of Kansas real estate and tells them the story. Recently, the Heathmans welcomed us into their home, showed us souvenirs: from a piece of Rock's plane to a football Charlie signed and sent him a short while ago. Despite his age and breaking some bones a few years ago when his lawnmower rolled over on him, Easter and his son in law gladly took us on a tour to the memorial. He's quite a guy. (They are quite a family) He said in 1931 he had no idea who Knute Rockne was or what Notre Dame was for that matter. Last year he received an honorary monogram at a ceremony at ND for his devotion to the Irish tradition. Heck, when he, his daughter and son in law welcomed us, all were wearing their ND gear. And there is no fee for the visit, the story, the trip to the memorial...
Yesterday, Easter's daughter sent a request. With her permission, I am posting the letter as well as an email and home address. I hope the response is overwhelming!
Sue Ann (Heathman) Brown's letter:
March 14, 2007
Dear Friends,
We would like to take this opportunity to keep in touch with just some of the wonderful people our family has met through Dad’s devotion to helping strangers visit the crash site over the years.
As March 31st approaches, some of you will realize that Dad’s birthday will be following on April 7th. This year, his 90th birthday will fall on the day before Easter Sunday, so it will be a busy weekend for many of us. Dad doesn’t want a big celebration, so we are keeping his party small. I am sure he would appreciate hearing from any/all of you, thus the request for a card shower.
On April 29th, PBS will air a film called “Flint Hills: Meditations From a Kansas Prairie.” There is about 5 minutes of Dad taking the filmmaker to the monument and being interviewed in his kitchen, standing in front of his 2 ND awards, proudly wearing his Honorary Monogram blazer. The rest of the film is about the grasslands, the flowers, the rocks, the burning of the pastures, etc.. There is even going to be a “premier” shown at The Hitchin’ Post in Matfield Green this Saturday afternoon! To view the film on the web, you can go to: flinthillsfilm.com. If you get bored with the flowers and rocks, just fast forward about 35 minutes to Dad’s interview. The last part about the prairie fires is interesting.
The Flint Hills will also receive national recognition in the April issue of “National Geographic.” There is supposed to be about 20 pages about our hills, so you might want to check that out too. No, Dad didn’t make their story.
We hope this finds everyone doing well, and until we meet again, take care and keep in touch.
Love,
Sue Ann and John
email:
eastersdaughter@yahoo.com
snailmail:
Easter Heathman
RR 1, Box 73
Matfield Green, KS 66862
Yesterday, Easter's daughter sent a request. With her permission, I am posting the letter as well as an email and home address. I hope the response is overwhelming!
Sue Ann (Heathman) Brown's letter:
March 14, 2007
Dear Friends,
We would like to take this opportunity to keep in touch with just some of the wonderful people our family has met through Dad’s devotion to helping strangers visit the crash site over the years.
As March 31st approaches, some of you will realize that Dad’s birthday will be following on April 7th. This year, his 90th birthday will fall on the day before Easter Sunday, so it will be a busy weekend for many of us. Dad doesn’t want a big celebration, so we are keeping his party small. I am sure he would appreciate hearing from any/all of you, thus the request for a card shower.
On April 29th, PBS will air a film called “Flint Hills: Meditations From a Kansas Prairie.” There is about 5 minutes of Dad taking the filmmaker to the monument and being interviewed in his kitchen, standing in front of his 2 ND awards, proudly wearing his Honorary Monogram blazer. The rest of the film is about the grasslands, the flowers, the rocks, the burning of the pastures, etc.. There is even going to be a “premier” shown at The Hitchin’ Post in Matfield Green this Saturday afternoon! To view the film on the web, you can go to: flinthillsfilm.com. If you get bored with the flowers and rocks, just fast forward about 35 minutes to Dad’s interview. The last part about the prairie fires is interesting.
The Flint Hills will also receive national recognition in the April issue of “National Geographic.” There is supposed to be about 20 pages about our hills, so you might want to check that out too. No, Dad didn’t make their story.
We hope this finds everyone doing well, and until we meet again, take care and keep in touch.
Love,
Sue Ann and John
email:
eastersdaughter@yahoo.com
snailmail:
Easter Heathman
RR 1, Box 73
Matfield Green, KS 66862
