Mr. President did not return from his persuit of the renegades and is presumed dead, or a happily incarcerated prisoner of the Redskins. It is also possible that he has nailed himself to the roof. In May, soldiers of the Civil War and World War II pitched their tents on the parade ground of Fort Filmore to briefly regarrison the long abandoned fortress. Members of the Fort Selden Military Committee spent Friday and Saturday nights at the post to honor the men that had served there and those still buried in the cemetery located nearby.

                   Approximately 200 visitors stoped by in the course of the event, partaking of hamburgers and hotdogs provided by the Salopek family, owners of the property on which the fort was locasted. In a short flag raising ceremony, soldiers of bygone eras raised the 32 star United States flag followed by the stars & bars of the former Confederacy, known more comonly as the First National. Finaly, the detail of mixed era soldiers raised and saluted 50 star United States flag.

                   The United States Army opened Fort Filmore in 1851 and abandoned the fort in 1861 at the start of the Civil War. For a short time during 1861 - 62 the Confederate forces of Lt. Colonel John Baylor of Texas occupied the post. Presently, none of the of the adobe walls of the old post remain, though some tile flooring is evident and is now protected from the weather by a metal canopy erected by the Salopeks.

                    The Salopek family has made the site of the old fort into a private park with lava rock monuments honoring the family's deceased military members. They have put up three flag poles in the southwest corner of the post and planted the parade ground in Bermuda grass; surrounded by pecan groves that block modern structures from view. One can pass back in time and imagine the fort as it was 156 years ago. All who attended enjoyed the event and a sincere thank you goed out to the Salopek family for the opportunity to visit Fort Filmore and enjoy the provisions.

 for John Smith

President, Friends of Fort Selden