Lionel Liberty delivers an America250PA Blair County activities book to Ebner Elementary third grader Noah Espenlaub on Monday. Mirror photo by Matt Churella

Mowrie A. Ebner Elementary School third graders received activity books and a special visit from Lionel Liberty, the America250PA Blair County committee’s mascot, as part of plans to spread American pride at area schools.

During a visit with Kim Berkheimer’s class Monday at the school, Blair County Controller A.C. Stickel, the committee’s chairman, and Emilie Deffenbaugh of Fort Roberdeau asked the students a series of history questions, such as when the United States was founded, who the first president was and what the 13 stripes on the U.S. flag stand for.

The students answered each of the questions correctly, but were later stumped when Stickel began asking harder questions about Fort Roberdeau specifically, like what the fort was built to protect and what’s special about its design.

Stickel declined to give the students those answers, noting they’ll need to visit Fort Roberdeau on July 4 to party like it’s 1776 and learn the answers directly from Deffenbaugh and fort commander Maj. Robert Clugage, who will be portrayed by Director Glenn Nelson.

Stickel told the students this year’s birthday celebration for America is going to be E.P.I.C., which stands for educate, preserve, innovate and celebrate.

On Independence Day, there will be free cake at Fort Roberdeau, Stickel said.

“What kind,” one student asked, to which Stickel said there will be a “red, white and blue cake.”

“It’ll probably be cupcakes, and we’re looking for local bakeries,” Stickel said before another student asked him whether there will be a chocolate cake.

“We’ll probably have some chocolate ones, but we’ll definitely have cake,” Stickel said.

Later that evening, the party will move to

DelGrosso’s Amusement Park in Tipton for “the biggest fireworks display ever,” Stickel said, noting there are many events planned leading up to the semiquincentennial.

They include a June 20 motorcycle ride that departs about 9 a.m. from the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home and a free Altoona Symphony Orchestra concert later in the evening at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Gates for the concert open at 6:30 p.m., with the event beginning about 7:30 p.m., according to the committee’s website.

Stickel said a community band will play for about an hour before the orchestra performs a patriotic concert on the Altoona Curve’s field.

The last song of the set is going to be the “1812 Overture,” which is a piece that features cannon fire,

Stickel said.

“We’re not going to have cannons, but guess what we’re going to have,” he asked the students. “We’ll have a big firework show and that’s going to be epic.”

After the presentation, the students took a group photo with Lionel Liberty, who gave each of them an activity book filled with Revolutionary War-themed coloring pages, crossword puzzles and word searches.

Stickel said the committee has distributed about 13,000 of those books to schools throughout the county since last Friday. Many schools will be handing them out directly to their students, but Lionel Liberty is looking forward to visiting other students soon, Stickel said, noting Monday’s presentation at Altoona Area was the first of many.

“You can just see that these are smart kids and they’re engaged,” Stickel said of Berkheimer’s class. “Hopefully that carries on throughout the county.”

Haley Fleegle, the district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and elementary programs, said the district appreciates the books and activities the committee provided.

“It’s important to talk to our kids about how this nation started,” Fleegle said, adding she hopes the students will participate in some of the summer events that lead up to the celebration.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.