Jack's memories of camp have lasted a lifetime.
Many of you have read my posts on the Knights of Kitaki Facebook page about Jack. I had the fortune of meeting Jack at a YMCA event and he told me all about his time at Camp Strader, the Camp the Lincoln YMCA ran before they sold that property due to flooding, and purchased the land that became Camp Kitaki. Jack went to camp in 1937 and 1938, before going to war, and living a long life of adventures in the Lincoln area and in Puerto Rico. Jack and I spoke at length the day I met him, and have been fortunate to get together again for him to look at the archive of photos Kitaki has of Camp Strader.
Jack's stories are priceless, and though many things have changed with camp (including it's location), many things have stayed the same.
Jack's enthusiasm for finding someone who knew (albeit a little) about his camp home was incredible. "I wasn't sure anyone else remembered it at all!" he told me. "Most of the folks I knew who went to Strader have passed. I don't have anyone to talk to about camp who understands it. That's why it was so nice meeting you. You know what it was! I guess that's the way of things. Things become history."
The camp Jack remembers is no more, but it's history has become something else entirely. The camp all of us know and love. Jack was delighted to learn we still do Flag ceremonies. He loved hearing about the meals we serve, and the activities that were the same ("Archery was big. You still do that? Really! That's so good for them!).
He was also delighted to hear the friends who meet at camp still love to get together and talk about the good ole days. The friends are friends forever.
I hope to see you at Round the Bend on the 28th!
Sincerely,
Jason Smith