Volunteers did fantastic job for Tampico events

I would like to thank Joan Johnson who did a fabulous job coordinating all the recent events in Tampico for the Ronald Reagan centennial. Of course, she had a lot of help from volunteers, particularly Shirley Lester.

We should be very grateful for the grace and dignity Joan presented to the world. It’s probably the last time Tampico will get such notice, but they’ll remember us well.

Rainbow stamps and cachet still are available. Judy Jacobson, retired postmaster, did a fabulous job in the rainbow cachet design and getting approval for Tampico to offer this stamp exclusively. Judy put many hours and months into this endeavor, and the results were beautiful.

Mail orders still are being accepted. Contact Joan Johnson at reaganbirthplace@thewisp.net or call 815-622-8705 to place an order. If you haven’t yet seen the Rainbow cachet or the First Day of Issue cachet, you can view them in our Picasa web album at picasaweb.google.com/TampicoHistoricalSociety/ReaganCentennial2011?feat=directlink on the Web.

Interestingly, in all the years I’ve been associated with Tampico events, I’ve met many who claim to know or be related to someone who “baby-sat” Ronald Reagan when he lived here. But I had never encountered any one of 77 people he saved at Lowell Park – until Feb. 10.

Carole Vaughn’s father, Jay Dunn, was saved by Ronald when Jay was just 5 years old. He was at the park for a Fourth of July event in 1930 and standing near the water. Someone had accidentally bumped him, and he fell into the water. Ronald saved him. Of course, it was many years later before he realized who had rescued him. Mr. Dunn is still living.

I think I speak on behalf of all of us when I say to both Joan and Judy (and Shirley, too), thank you.

Note to readers – Denise Wranik McLoughlin is a volunteer and family history coordinator for the Tampico Area Historical Society.