The Rawls Byrd Elementary School in Williamsburg brought Dr. Ellen’s book, WILLI GETS A HISTORY LESSON in Virginia’s Historic Triangle, to a select group of 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students.
These students were all given copies of the book to own and read in advance with their parents; then they were invited to spend a morning with Dr. Ellen and some very special guests of hers that included (a) the dog, WILLI; (b) WILLI’s owner Mr. V.; (c) Lance Pedigo of Colonial Williamsburg’s Fifes and Drum Corp; and (d) Colonial Williamsburg’s beloved character, Thomas Jefferson, played for many years by Bill Barker of Williamsburg.
The gathering was hosted by Mrs. Viky Pedigo of the Rawls Byrd School Media Center. Mrs. Pedigo wears many important hats: she is an inspiring media center director of the best media center in all the world, mother of Lance Pedigo of the Fifes and Drum Corp, long-time friend of CW’s Thomas Jefferson, and one of Dr. Ellen’s dearest friends..not to mention a mentor for many a children’s storywriter world-wide.
Enjoy these photographs from this special day of literary fun and friends!
MEET COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG’S BELOVED CHARACTER, THOMAS JEFFERSON
Do you know? According to History Note #9 in the WILLI book – in reference to Thomas Jefferson at William & Mary – Thomas Jefferson, who became the third President of the United States, first stepped into the Christopher Wren Building at the age of sixteen when he enrolled in the College in 1760. By that age, Jefferson was a scholar and able to read Greek and Latin authors in the original text. He frequently studied fifteen hours a day. William Small, who introduced the young scholar to the writings of Locke, Bacon, and Newton, taught Jefferson. He also awakened in him an interest in science. It was a turbulent time in the history of the College. William & Mary’s students and faculty left the college when the Revolution began, but Jefferson and the College both survived and endured in history.
Mrs. Pedigo (right) welcomes Thomas Jefferson and Dr. Ellen for a morning of fun with the students.
Mr. Jefferson responds to questions from students about his Colonial garb.
Mr. Jefferson fields some great questions, also, about whether we all, like him, can live forever in the minds of others.
There was time for autographs, too.
The pleasure is all mine!
MEET LANCE PEDIGO OF THE FAMOUS CW FIFES AND DRUM CORPS
Dr. Ellen queries the kids about the role of the Fifes and Drums in Colonial combat.
According to History Note #30 in the WILLI book – Does the tricorn hat have a functional purpose? The answer is a resounding yes! One side of the brim was folded up so that when you shouldered your musket you didn’t knock off your hat. It also provided a little aerodynamic support for the militiamen riding horses; in other words, the hat didn’t blow off so easily while riding!
A little big, perhaps...but a fun learning experience!
Lance told the kids all about the different colors of coats used in Colonial militia groups – including the fact that the red color of his coat served to protect the fifes and drummers from enemy combatants. He fielded all kinds of questions, some with rather hilarious stories attached! He was a real hit as you can imagine!
But there is more! Lance is a professional musician in his own right with many, many credits to his name. In fact, as we speak, Lance is on his way to Sydney, Australia for the 60th anniversary performance of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. He will be Drum Major, leading the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums, a group of performers from the Boston area that formed a Fifes and Drums regiment based on the Colonial Williamsburg model.
Finally, I bet you don’t know this: Lance first joined Colonial Williamsburg’s Fifes and Drum corps as a recruit in 1972 at the age of nine!
Mr. Pedigo tells the kids that WILLI is an official 'Dog Major' (instead of a Drum Major).
WILLI HAS GOTTEN OLDER…BUT SHE IS STILL A TROOPER!
Dr. Ellen couldn’t have chosen a more loyal friend for the main character of her first children’s book. Willi loves meeting kids and loves her role as a tour guide through Virginia’s Historic Triangle region. Says Anne Miller, President of the Home Educators Association of Virginia: “Recommended for grades three through five, I think children as young as three and as old as 83 will delight in Willi’s adventures.”
Yes, indeed!
Willi wears a gold star made especially for her by Dr. Ellen.
Here a Rawls Byrd student gets to meet WILLI close up, and talk with Mr. V about her.
Willi’s face is getting white now, which is a sign of age, of course. But not to worry, she still runs and jumps in style and knows her way around the historic area. As some of you know, she has many friends there. You should be so lucky as to have her as your personal tour guide!
TALK ABOUT A FUN HISTORY TEACHER!
WILLI, TOUR GUIDE AND TEACHER PAR EXCELLENCE!
WHAT A DAY IT WAS!
Dr. Ellen autographs books and enjoys the jubilance and enthusiasm of the students.
A special thanks to Lesley R. Collins and also Dave Hazzard for their photography skills. They captured the spirit of the day and helped make WILLI even more famous than before.
Thanks, too, to Wes Eary, Principal of the Rawls Byrd School, and his Assistant Principal Cathy Vazquez, for welcoming Dr. Ellen and her entourage to their very special school.
Do you know? Dr. Ellen designed and managed a Federal Grant Program in the school from 1970 to 1975 that served as the prototype for Virginia’s Elementary Guidance Counselor program. Dr. Ellen functioned as the school’s ‘Diaganostic Prescriptive Specialist’ during those grant years and assisted teachers and administrators in the behavioral management of problem and crisis situations. At the end of this grant period she was hired by the Colonial Community Mental Health Center in Williamsburg where she remained until 1990 as a well-known family therapist and public speaker. From there she opened a limited private practice and soon thereafter started traveling the world as an international photojournalist.
Find out more about Dr. Ellen here.
