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          Sweat and AK-47s cover their t-shirts as they march together under the scorching sun. Their faces are solemn with the weight of reality as they trudge toward their destination, away from family and friends and the life they knew.  The Lord's Resistance Army has abducted them and forced them to the LRA camp, where the abductees will wait. And they will hope and pray for someone to come to their rescue.

            This is the harsh reality for thousands of Ugandan children whom the LRA has abducted to fuel its rebellion against the Ugandan government. But this story comes not from the war-ravaged streets of Africa, but the heart of America.

            Thousands of people from more than 100 cities worldwide participated in The Rescue on April 25, 2009. Invisible Children sponsored the event to raise awareness about the child soldiers in Uganda who are still in captivity.

            Alex Linderer, Lenexa sophomore, was one of three main coordinators for The Rescue in Kansas City, Mo. He said Invisible Children is a non-profit organization that began in 2003 after three men went to Africa in search of adventure.          

            The three California natives, Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey and Laren Poole, stumbled upon the civil war in Uganda and have dedicated their lives to ending it ever since. The war continues under the rebel Joseph Kony's leadership of the Lord's Resistance Army.

           "The war is 22 or 23 years old, it dates back quite awhile and it's a really messy thing to describe," Linderer said. 

"It was just a big power struggle. After awhile, the rebels who were fighting the government in Uganda, they started to lose support and lose power and lose purpose. They just started to be kind of like this militia that fought and killed to abduct child soldiers to fight in their ranks. Now 90 percent of the LRA, the rebel group, is child soldiers."   

            Linderer said the LRA has abducted more than 30,000 children during the last 20 years, 

and three thousand are currently fighting for the rebels. 

            Invisible Children cultivates interest and raises awareness about the crisis in Uganda with the Invisible Children documentary, graphic t-shirts, internships and more. But one of the main ways it brings its message to the masses is through its "Big Events."

            Invisible Children has put on three "Big Events" since its birth in 2003. Global Night Commute was the first event in 2006, Displace Me came next in 2007, and then The Rescue in 2009. Linderer said that as a non-profit, IC spends very little on these events and relies largely on donations. The Rescue in Kansas City happened with only $500 out-of-pocket from IC, and administrators asked participants to donate $5 each.

            The events each represent the phase of the war during which they occur, but all participants complete similar activities such as listening to speakers, writing letters to government officials and camping overnight.

            Elizabeth Finn, Overland Park sophomore, attended Global Night Commute in Kansas City, Mo.

            "It was to represent the kids having to leave during the night to be safe," Finn said.

            The LRA abducts children from their rural homes in Uganda and transforms them into war weapons. Thousands of children escaped this fate by walking for miles every night to sleep safely in the nearest city. Global Night Commuters imitated this phenomenon by gathering at a common starting point in participating cities and walking together to their shelter for the night.

Global Night Commuters on Invisible Children's Web site. 

          "We started at the plaza, at the fountain, and we walked with all of our gear through Westport while they were having a bar crawl," Finn said. "The whole time it was raining."

            Her group stayed at the church Jacob's Well overnight, where campers listened to a speaker, wrote letters to government officials, watched the documentary and discussed necessary changes.

            "I remember the woman who was in charge of it talked about how we need to be praying that Joseph Kony will change instead of just praying for the kids," Finn said.

            Linderer said that after Global Night Commute, night commuting ended in northern Uganda. But a different problem followed.

            Ugandan citizens were still vulnerable to Joseph Kony's cruelty, so the government moved them to displacement camps as a protective measure. But the camps brought with them other dangers like famine and thirst.

Ugandan displacement camp on Invisible Children's Web site. 

            "They were forced to leave their place where they lived in northern Uganda to displacement camps, which were the government's attempt at keeping them safe," Linderer said. "But in actuality it did the opposite." 

            Finn and her sister Laura displaced themselves at a park in the Fairfax District of Kansas City, Kan. They surrendered one water bottle and two bags of crackers each upon arrival and set up their camp. Then campers got a taste of displaced life after decorating their makeshift shelters and listening to a speaker from Africa.

            "We did something really cool," Finn said. "The girls in Africa have to walk lots and lots of miles for water. All the girls had to get water bottles. We could only get one at a time, and we had to get them for everyone in our tent area... And then the boys had to go get the crackers, 'cause the men were responsible for the food. And that was all the food we were supposed to eat and all the water we were supposed to drink."

            Linderer said that although the event did not eliminate displacement camps, conditions there are improving.  But the war wages on.

            Invisible Children was hopeful during recent peace talks between Kony and the Ugandan government. But its optimism was shattered when Kony backed out and continued his rampage. There are still captive children who are desperate to be rescued, so The Rescue was born. 

Ugandan children on Invisible Children's Web site. 

            Josh Hafner, Great Bend sophomore, volunteered as march director at The Rescue in Kansas City. He organized people into groups of 12 to travel to their symbolic LRA camp for the night.            

            "The Rescue is composed of two different locations, in running with the metaphor of the rescue of Joseph Kony's child soldiers," Hafner said. "The first site was J.C. Nichols Park, the abduction site. They marched to Penn Valley Park about two miles away."

            There campers set up tents and wrote letters while they waited to be "rescued," which was contingent on news coverage and a celebrity appearance. 

            Tornado warnings forced campers to seek temporary shelter in a nearby parking garage. There Hafner used a megaphone to silence the crowd and discuss the mission of Invisible Children and The Rescue. Hafner is a member of KUganda, a student organization that enabled him to get more involved with Invisible Children after coming to college. 

            "I got involved with this as much as I could in Central Kansas where I lived, mostly through online, through promoting and donating money," Hafner said. "But being up here at KU and being involved with the on-campus group that's an affiliate of Invisible Children, which is called KUganda, I had an opportunity to be more directly involved with the organization." 

            KUganda president Arielle Hernandez, San Mateo, Cali., junior, also volunteered at The Rescue in Kansas City with some friends. 

            "KUganda works very closely with Invisible Children," Hernandez said. "We hold events to raise awareness and money for Invisible Children, and we promote their events. This past month, our group worked very hard to promote Invisible Children's The Rescue." 

               During the event volunteers encouraged abductees to focus on why they were there and to write letters to their senators. A few local news stations came to the LRA camp throughout the evening, and at 11 p.m. the band Switchfoot officially rescued Kansas City. The freed campers then had the option to camp for the rest of the night or become "Rescue Riders" like Hernandez and travel to the nearest city that had yet to be rescued.

            "We spent a week Rescue Riding and were finally rescued by Oprah in Chicago. That week was the most challenging, incredible and inspiring week of my life," Hernandez said. "My friends and I were surrounded by 500 people from across the nation, all with the same passion and heart for this cause. We slept in churches, marched through downtown, and sang and danced outside of Oprah's studio. It is near impossible for me to put this experience into words."

            These sacrifices may seem small compared to the reality in Uganda, but there is much conviction behind them. 

            "These children in Uganda are part of a generation that has never known peace, and I am part of a generation that can change the world," Hernandez said. "Actively pursuing justice to help end a war and rescue the child soldiers is our duty and fortune, and that is why I am involved with KUganda and Invisible Children. There is this realization that we are all part of a human family, and I have hope that these children will see the good and beauty in this world one day."                                                                                              

           Anthony Schwager stands by his small display at the Downtown Lawrence Farmer's Market early on Saturday mornings with a vigilant eye gazing through his glasses. It's too early in the season to bring out the big tent, so the table before him holds a small assortment of honey products with brightly colored labels bearing the name "Anthony's Beehive." He smiles timidly through his braces at passing shoppers and is keen to aid them with their purchases when they stop at his stand.

            Later this week, Anthony will take that same smile to his second job in the office at Trinity In-Home Care. He will also volunteer at Community Living Opportunities and Lawrence Memorial Hospital. And in the midst of all that, he will probably find time to visit a high school and speak about Anthony's Beehive or attend other events that cater to people who suffer from developmental disabilities. If he isn't sidetracked by hospital visits, that is.

            Twenty-two-year-old Anthony suffers from epilepsy and developmental disabilities. Anthony's mother, Terri Schwager, said this is because of low oxygen at birth, and that he has always required a little extra attention because of his disabilities.

            One thing Anthony's family is sure to watch out for is injury. Anthony's brother Brandon Schwager  said Anthony doesn't feel pain like other people, so he doesn't tell them when he is hurt. This has resulted in multiple trips to the hospital, a few of which sent Anthony home with stitches. Brandon said they have to be watchful "if he's ever doing anything with scissors or knives or the stove." Terri said she used to find bloody socks in Anthony's room that he had used to bandage his wounds.

            "He has no self-preservation skills," she said.

            One particular hospital visit confirmed that Anthony had permanently lost sight in his left eye.

            Terri said the blindness was likely because of an epileptic seizure. Once she noticed him bumping into things, it was too late to save his vision. Anthony now wears protective, shatterproof glasses to help preserve his right eye.

            Now if Anthony is hurt, he must tell another adult who decides whether the injury is serious.

            In addition to maintaining his physical well-being, Anthony's family pitches in to drive him places, help him manage Anthony's Beehive and make sure all his needs are met.

            "We try to make sure Anthony is living the life that he wants to live...That's always been our goal," Terri said.

            Anthony also has a caretaker, Beth, who helps out a few days a week to make sure Anthony's family has time to get other things done. But Anthony helps others as much as they help him.

            Anthony began working at Trinity In-Home Care in January 2009, where he has been a client for many years. Executive Director Kelly Evans said Trinity is a local division of United Way that helps the elderly and people with disabilities be independent.           

            "He showed initiative by applying for a job we had available, and we knew he would be a great employee," Evans said.

            Anthony works at Trinity two days a week helping with the mail, filing, cleaning and doing other tasks around the office.

            "Anthony is helpful, reliable and very professional," Evans said. "He even helped push my kids on the swing outside when they were at work with me a few weeks ago."

            Anthony also volunteers at Community Living Opportunities and Lawrence Memorial Hospital. CLO's Web site said it serves the developmentally disabled of Douglas County, and Anthony helps out there by doing office work. He said his caretaker, Beth, helps him deliver mail to the different departments at Lawrence Memorial every Wednesday.

            "Reading the job description, I just knew in my heart that it would be a good fit for him," Terri, also a nurse at Lawrence Memorial, said.            

            In addition to Anthony's second job and volunteer positions, schools and organizations often ask him to speak at events for the people who suffer from developmental disabilities. His mother, Terri, made a half-serious joke about finding a manager for Anthony.  

            "To be honest, I have considered hiring someone to work with Anthony because we're getting really overwhelmed," Terri said.

            Terri said the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities contacted Anthony about attending an event for the developmentally disabled in Topeka. KCDD asked him to be on a panel and speak to people with disabilities about employment.

            Nancy Plunkett, a special education teacher at Broadmoor Technical Center in Shawnee, Kan., asked Anthony to speak to her students about Anthony's Beehive.

Anthony and the Bee at Broadmoor Technical Center. Provided by Nancy Plunkett. 

            "Anthony is a wonderful role model for students with cognitive disabilities, not just physical," Plunkett said. "He is in much more control of his life because of his small business."             

            Lawrence is part of a new National Heritage Area that will expand its nationwide fame beyond Jayhawk basketball.

            The name "Jayhawk" originated before the Civil War as a term used for Kansas soldiers who fought for freedom. During the struggle between anti- and pro-slavery groups in Kansas and Missouri, west of the state line was known as "Bleeding Kansas." Because of this area's role in the Civil War, Douglas County and 40 other counties in eastern Kansas and western Missouri are part of a new National Heritage Area called Freedom's Frontier.

            National Heritage Areas have been founded throughout the United States and are defined by history, cultures and landscapes that have shaped American history. Treasurer Judy Billings of the Freedom's Frontier Board of Trustees said that 37 National Heritage Areas currently exist. Billings said Freedom's Frontier was officially recognized as a National Heritage Area when President Bush signed the National Heritage Act of 2006 on October 12. National Park Services requires all National Heritage areas to complete a general management plan, and Freedom's Frontier's is now in the works.

            The Freedom's Frontier management plan is designed to engage citizens in their heritage and serve as a guide on how to get involved in the area's establishment. Work on Freedom's Frontier began in 1999, well before it was officially recognized as a National Heritage Area. The planning process officially began in February 2008 and will be finalized in May 2009. Freedom's Frontier will be active in time to participate in the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War from 2011-2015.

            The effort to create Freedom's Frontier began in Douglas County and is centered in Lawrence. The Board of Trustees includes multiple Lawrence residents, including Chairwoman Judge Deanell Reece Tacha, Treasurer Judy Billings, also director of the Lawrence Convention & Visitor's Bureau, and Secretary Charles Jones, also director of the KU Public Management Center.

            The purpose of National Heritage Areas is multifaceted. They promote the history of the designated area, provide education and cultivate business. The main goal of Freedom's Frontier is to incorporate the many individual stories from the area, the viewpoints of Kansans and Missourians, and create one comprehensive story and experience.

             "I am very enthusiastic about the possibility - now it is a reality - we will be able to tell the nation and the world what freedom meant to the people of that time.

These are stories that have sort of been lost in history, and we are going to try to give them focus," Tacha said.            

            There are numerous ideas about how to carry out these initiatives, but they cannot be finalized until a management plan is completed. One possibility is using technologies like the Internet and film to make descriptions and stories of historic sites readily available.

            "You might stand out in a field somewhere where something significant happened. You can look it up on your cell phone. There will be a Web site where you can look up things. One idea is an IMAX theatre. There are lots of options now," Billings said.

            Billings hopes to incorporate this local interpretation of national history into the school system and educate the public with marketing and publicity. A local AAA magazine called Journeys recently printed a three-page article about Freedom's Frontier. The City of Lawrence Web site featured an article by Billings about Freedom's Frontier in the March edition of its newsletter, The Flame.

            Freedom's Frontier also aims to boost local business through tourism and attracting outside businesses. According to a Lawrence Journal-World article from last year, city commissioners conducted a study on how other Big 12 cities attract business and showed that Lawrence is not keeping up.

            "It seems to me that we're kind of behind the times," Commissioner Mike Amyx told the Journal-World.

            Amyx sees the new National Heritage Area as a possibility to bring Lawrence up to date. Tourism is always good for Lawrence's business, and Freedom's Frontier could help outsiders see that Lawrence is good for their business.

            "Seems to me anytime we are able to bring new people in to visit, it gives the opportunity for potential business people to consider spin-off companies in Lawrence," Amyx said.

            The funding for Freedom's Frontier will come from multiple places, including federal funds, public and private donations and taxes.  In The Flame newsletter, Billings said Freedom's Frontier could receive up to $10 million in federal funding. Tacha said Freedom's Frontier has also received sizeable private and public donations already, including money from Kansas and Missouri tourism funds. Some money from taxes like the motel tax has been designated for Freedom's Frontier funding. The organization has no taxing authority of its own and no new taxes will be proposed.