Golden K chair Judy Sielaff introduces guest speaker Keith Huotari, Menominee Range Historical Foundation president, at Monday's meeting. (Joanne Lindholm photo)

KINGSFORD — Friends gathered once again on Monday morning to learn more about the community at the Golden K meeting.

Chair Judy Sielaff opened the meeting. Bill Roberts, along with accompanist Alyce Derwinski, led the group in four songs, including a favorite, “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”

The welcome song was sung for speaker Keith Huotari and his family. Birthday wishes were sung for Duane Bernard and the anniversary song for Gary and Sue Proudfit.

Sick call included member Joan Jouppi, who is in Green Bay, Wis., but was said to be returning home.

The quote for the day was, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can go forward and change the end.”

Happy Dollars were given by Sarah Gasperini, “The wind chills the bone, the snowbanks get higher, but remember spring is coming.” Candy Buchcuski noted the amazing Olympics for the United States.

Kathy Jo Anderson will lead bingo at Optalis Health in Kingsford on March 12 and Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation in Kingsford on March 13. All members are encouraged to attend to help residents.

Sielaff introduced guest speaker Keith Huotari, Menominee Range Historical Foundation president, who presented a program about the Civil War and its ties to the local area. He welcomed all veterans and thanked them for their service.

He and his wife are both history buffs, especially the Civil War. A big part of their interest began with reading headstones at Cemetery Park in Iron Mountain, which sparked them to do more research.

The Civil War occurred between 1861 and 1865, before Dickinson County was formed in 1891, making it the youngest county in Michigan.

President Abraham Lincoln called all to arms and 90,000 soldiers came from Michigan; of those, 14,000 died.

He noted that no battles took place in Michigan.

Huotari knows of 44 residents from Dickinson County who served and presented a list of names to the Golden K. Many of the last names were familiar to members.

Huotari wrote a book about the last surviving area Civil War veteran, Samuel Bassett, who is buried in the first plot of the cemetery. He had served at Bull Run.

A group of Civil War veterans started a group called Grand Army of the Republic, which met at 221 W. Hughitt St. in Iron Mountain. Members were from many various states. They met twice a month and most had fought in major battles of the war. The group disbanded in 1913.

Of the 44 local Civil War servicemen, he had photos of 17 and shared their later occupations and lives connected to the local area. Several had served in major battles such as Bull Run and Antietam.

One of the most significant figures was John Lane Buell, who discovered iron ore in Quinnesec.

The group thoroughly enjoyed the history lesson and being taken back in time to the Civil War connections to the area.

Huotari was thanked and welcomed back anytime.

Golden K meets at 10 a.m. every Monday at the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford. All are welcome.