July 15-16, 2018

Omaha, NE

On Sunday we crossed into Nebraska and arrived at Walnut Creek Recreation Area in Papillion, just outside of Omaha.  We had gotten an early start because the campground does not accept reservation and with only 44 sites we were concerned about availability.

There were two open sites when we arrived so we did have a little bit of a choice.

  We decided to take site 34 on a bluff with a beautiful view.

We planned on staying a week because there are a lot of things to do and see in the Omaha area.

Our first outing was a short drive away to Boys Town.   The mission of Boys Town is to change how the world cares for children, families and communities.

Since 1917, Boys Town has given thousands of at-risk children the education, support and love they need to succeed. (Girls have been admitted to Boys Town since 1979)

Regardless of a person’s race, religion, or background, Boys Town believes that everyone deserved the chance to reach their full potential.

History:

In 1917, Father Edward Flanagan, a young immigrant priest from Ireland, became discouraged in his work with homeless men in Omaha. 

 So he borrowed $90 from a friend to rent an old boardinghouse and opened his first Home for boys.

The Home quickly outgrew its space as more boys sought refuge there so in 1921 Father Flanagan again borrowed money and purchased Overlook Farm that would become the permanent site of his Home for Boys.

By the 1930s a school, dormitories and administration buildings had been constructed.

At Boys Town, children attend year-round classes at two state accredited schools.  Younger kids attend Wegner Middle School for grades 4-8 and older students attend the Boys Town High School.

A movie based on Boys Town and starring Spencer Tracey and Mickey Rooney premiered in 1938 bringing worldwide attention to the Home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Father Flanagan believed that even the most troubled kid could become a good citizen.

On a trip to Europe, at the bequest of President Truman to advise government leaders about the care of children who were orphaned during WWII, Father Flanagan died of a heart attack.

Father Flanagan’s successors carried on the critical mission and adopted the innovative Family Home Program, introducing family-style treatment to its youth.  This program provides a family for children ages 10-18.  Six to eight boys or girls live in each single-family home with a married couple called Family-Teachers.

Our tour of Boys Town was led by a young man who has been a resident of the Home for one year.  He applied for admittance to escape his violent neighborhood in Chicago.  He is in his last year of High School and has already earned a scholarship to college.

Our first stop on the tour was at the Dowd Chapel, home to Father Flanagan’s Tomb.

Built in the tradition of a 15^th-century Gothic Church, it is a symbol of the commitment to help troubled youth find a positive balance of the spiritual, intellectual and physical.

 

The tour also includes access into Father Flanagan’s former residence.

 

Our guide gave us a brief tour of the Hall of History museum that contains permanent exhibits.  At the tours completion we returned to the Hall of History for a self-guided tour to see some of the exhibits more in depth.

We left Boys Town impressed with the history, current mission and success rate of the institution begun 100 years ago by a young immigrant priest.  It reinforces the notion that one person can make a difference.

In 1884, Moderator of the United Free Church of Scotland, James Wells, in his book The Parables of Jesus tells the story of a little girl carrying a big baby boy.  Seeing her struggling, someone asked if she wasn't tired.  With surprise she replied, "No, he's not heavy, he's my brother."