Voting for the 8 Wonders of Kansas Customs competition continues on-line and at the ballot box for the next phase of the Kansas Sampler Foundation’s “8 Wonders” program.
Emporia and the surrounding area have two customs that have been nominated for the contest.
Emporia was nominated for being the Founding City of Veterans Day, which had been called “Armistice Day” until 1953, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the document the changed the national holiday’s name. The change was made because of efforts by Emporia shoe repairman Al King and U.S. Representative Ed Rees campaigned for the change and appealed to Congress to agree.
The city has a strong custom of honoring veterans of all military service groups from the Civil War to the present, with All Veterans Memorial Park and numerous monuments and memorials to veterans placed throughout the city.
Cottonwood Falls in adjoining Chase County also has been nominated for is weekly jam session on Friday nights at the Emma Chase Cafe there.
Both are among 24 finalists for the 8 Wonders competition.
The public will determine the winners through voting either on-line at www.8wonders.org, or on paper ballots that are available by calling (620) 585-2374.
Individuals may vote three times, and must cast ballots for eight nominees in order for the votes to be counted.
Voting will end on Oct. 20, with the eight winners to be named by the end of October, according to information from Marci Penner, executive director of Kansas Sampler Foundation.