BECOME A PART OF THIS HISTORY MAKING NATIONAL OVERMYER FAMILY REUNION.


Day 1 July 24, 2009

Friday Schedule

3:00-5:00 PM - Registration (This helps us keep everyone going in the right direction. Registration will be available everyday)

4:00-5:30 PM - Historical Tour (Overmyer sites of interest)

6:00 PM - Ice Cream Social

3:00-6:00 - Overmyer Cookbook & Memorial Signature Quilt projects

7:30-9:00 PM - Bonfire & Story Telling (Folks are welcome to use the fire to roast fish/hot dogs/marsh mellows)

Day 2 July 25, 2009

Saturday Schedule

8:30-930 AM - Pancake Breakfast

9:00 AM - Welcome/Opening Ceremony

9:30-1200 Fun for Youth: Family crafts, Overmyer Olympic Games, Overmyer "Brothers Ship" Regalia contest.

Workshops

9:30-10:30----Overmyer Cookbook Project: Katy Wendel (See page on this site)

9:30-10:25----Charles W. Meiser: "Internet Research: Using Family Folklore & Stories as Research Tools"

9:30-10:25----Roberta Wunder: "Doing Genealogy & Loving It!"

9:30-10:25----Jackie & Richard Passey: Using Family Search & LDS Family History Centers/Collections

9:30-10:30----Rachel Merrill: "Finding That Elusive Ancester"

9:30-10:30----Shirley Willard & Melinda Clinger: Using Local Historical Societies: Treasures of the Past"

9:30-10:25----Overmyer Memorial Signature Quilt: James & Phyllis Bock Family

Repeat of Workshops (We've had a lot if interest in the subjects, folks didn't want to miss the ideas/info so we repeated them)

10:30-11:25----Charles W. Meiser: "Internet Research: Using Folklore & Stories as Research Tools"

10:30-11:25----Overmyer Cookbook Project

10:30-11:25----Overmyer Memorial Signature Quilt: James & Phyllis Bock Family

10:30-11:30----Roberta Wunder: "Doing Genealogy & Loving It!"

10:30-11:25----Shirley Willard & Melinda Clinger: "Using Local Historical Societies: Treasures of the Past"

10:30-11:25----Rachel Merrill: "Finding That Elusive Ancestor"

11:30-12:30 Keynote Speaker: Laurence Overmire
The title of the keynote address: "One Immigrant's Legacy: The Proud Tradition of the Overmyer Family in America

This address will be a highlight of the reunion events. Larry is the author of the new Overmyer history, "One Immigrant's Legacy." He has had a multi-faceted career as a writer, actor, director, educator and genealogist. He has appeared on Broadway, film and television and is an internationally published poet.

Larry's contribution to preserving our Overmyer history and heritage will be lasting. Anyone searching to discover what it means to be an Overmyer in America, will surely find the answers in his groundbreaking work. It's been over a hundred years since a written history of this depth has been undertaken. Only a historian with a poet's passion would take on such an imposing project. We're confident that most will agree with us that "One Immigrant's Legacy" is magnificent. New generations of Overmyer's will become aquanted with a vibrant American tradition, thus becoming heirs to a legacy for a bright future. His keynote address will introduce the Overmyer's attending the reunion to his historical focus.
Laurence Overmire, Author
For information on ordering your copy click this link: One Immigrant's Legacy


12:30-1:30 Lunch Pitch-in (Reunion will provide seating/tables/ice/drink/ice water/hamburgers/hot dogs, buns, chips, condiments, plates, cups, bowls, spoons, knives, forks)

1:30-2:30 Book Signing: "One Immigrant's Legacy" By Laurence Overmire

This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet the author and have him personally sign your book. (See home page for ordering information)

2:30-3:30 Historical Presentation: Larry Cornwell Our cousin Larry will be dressed in authentic reproduction Revolutionary War uniform. Mr. Cornwell descends from Capt. Overmyer through his tenth child Maria Magdalene, who married Peter Witmer, who served in the Revolution. He is a regular at luncheons, in classrooms, and other events such as family reunions, and talks about the life and times of the Revelutionary War soldier.


3:30-5:00 Family Folklore Exchange

5:30-7:00 Dinner/Banquet Program & Entertainment Kathy Overmyer will be performing at this special family banquet. Her beautiful vocal talent has thrilled audiences!

7:00-8:00 Break/personal time







8:00-11:00 PM - Overmyer Legacy Dance (Sunday Best/nice casual) This will be a great social event to meet one another and develop new friendships. The "DJ" tells me they have over 20,000 song titles available for your enjoyment. This is for the young and old. There will be a variety of good music everyone can enjoy! One of our Overmyer cousins built the dance floor at our reunion location.

Bonfire & Story Telling

Day 3 July 26, 2009

Sunday Schedule

8:30- 9:30 AM Breakfast

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Memorial Service/Program at Richland Center Cemetery & Church grounds

Address: 700 North 150 West, Richland Center, Indiana

"Gone But Not Forgotten"

July 26, 2009

Program Begins: 11:30 am

Singing of National Anthem: Kathy Overmyer teaches chorale music at Bremen High School. She is a very talented vocalist and is well known in the nearby communities for her musical involvement community productions. We are so pleased to have her be a part of the Overmyer Reunion celebration.

Ancestral Tribute: A simple tribute to the Overmyer family's historic legacy of service to country.

Scriptural Reading/Reflection/ Poem: Dr. Craig Overmyer has accepted an invitation to write a poem for this special occasion. He will reflect upon the faith value of our family, and read the scriptures that John George Overmyer pondered as he embarked on his historic journey of courage. (These scriptures were written in JG Overmyer's journal).

Salute of Honor: Revoluntionary War Era Gun Salute (Muzzle guns with black powder)

Memorial Speaker: Leonard Overmyer III, is well known in the Overmyer genealogy circles for the tremendeous contributions he has made in being one of the first to sponsor a Overmyerwebsite. He particularly has been encouraging to many Overmyer family members to help one another connect the family history dots. He is a recognized author of Civil War era histories and books.

Message & Blessing: Rev. Don Nunemaker
Nestled in the Indiana country side, where two roads intersect on a little raise in the pastoral fields of Richland Center, is a small church and cemetery. It bespeaks of the great American values of God, family and country. This is the typical scene found so common across this nation, where in a sleepy reach of trees is found a school, church and cemetery. In times past it was the heart and soul of a rural neighborhood, where families subdued the wilderness and homesteaded a future. Even today families farm the land and call the quiet place home. Richland Center is a sacred burial ground for some early Indiana settlers, among them were the Overmyers. We've invited the minister of this little country church to lead us in remembering our family legacy of faith, and to offer a blessing for the future. The organist at this country church is an Overmyer descendant. Inside the church is found a wooden shelf handcrafted by an Overmyer family member who has passed on. This simple place is home to our Overmyer past and present.



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Overmyer Homestead - Burr Oak, Indiana

July 26, 2009 1:30 PM

Hog Roast: A special treat will be a traditional hog roast at the Overmyer Homestead in Bur Oak, Indiana. This will be the final touch to our reunion activities. Here we will tour the homestead and near by Bur Oak cemetery. The offical reunion photo will be taken of participants attending the 2009 Overmyer National Family Reunion. This will be a special moment in the modern history of the Overmyer family!

3:30- Family Business Meeting- Future Gatherings, Choose Reunion Leadership, Looking to the Future, History Projects, From Here Where? etc.

Closing Ceremonies:




We hope that reunion participants will experience the variety of activities scheduled.