Smith: Day of Discovery to showcase Sonoma County history

History may or may not be made in Santa Rosa on Sunday. But this is certain:

Sonoma County history will be found and celebrated at a free, first-time community event at the DeTurk Round Barn near Railroad Square.

It's called Finding History in Sonoma County: A Day of Discovery. All throughout the reverently renovated, two-story barn on Donahue Street will be representatives of public and private organizations that maintain and share local historical records.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, the agents of history will speak about their collections and how interested people can access them.

There will be mini-workshops and demonstrations on digitizing old photos and conserving artifacts. Gaye LeBaron will speak at 10:30 a.m. and will be followed by special guests who'll share insights into Isaac DeTurk, the “unexpected discoveries” that lie within Sonoma County records and some secrets of Jack and Charmian London.

Nine local authors will be on hand to discuss their areas of historical fascination and to sign their books. Copperfield's Books will bring a pop-up bookstore.

The inaugural Day of Discovery at the landmark round barn in the West End neighborhood is hosted by the Sonoma County Library and the county Historical Records Commission.

Model A lovers will show off their cars and costumed channelers of significant local residents long dead will regale with tales of how it was to live in Sonoma County back when.

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1,000 U.S. FLAGS, each casket-sized and issued to the family of a man or woman who took up arms in service to the country, will be placed on display on Memorial Day for Santa Rosa's Avenue of the Flags tribute.

Putting up and taking down those flags and their poles is a big job. The veterans who take it on each year are asking for a hand

If you can help, show up at Santa Rosa Memorial Park on Franklin Avenue at 6 a.m. on Monday, and/or at 3 p.m. If you've never before seen those 1,000 large flags rippling in the breeze, you may find it quite stirring.

This year the Memorial Day program will single out for special tribute two veterans who quietly and faithfully served other vets.

Former Vietnam War infantryman Bruce Thomson, a stalwart of local efforts to aid wounded warriors, died in late 2015 at the age of 67.

Stan Turner co-founded the Avenue of the Flag tribute. The Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War was 86 when he died last June in a fire at his Santa Rosa home.

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THE BACKBREAKER 5K is what Healdsburg's Joel Billman calls his Saturday, May 28, benefit fun run along the Foss Creek Path.

The name proves that Billman's sense of humor was unscathed by the Fitch Mountain hiking-trail fall nearly four years ago that left the former Chalkboard and Oakville Grocery chef paralyzed from the waist down.

Registration for the family-friendly Backbreaker 5K walk-run is at ultrasignup.com.

Proceeds and donations will help Billman to pay the myriad bills he has incurred since he fell, and to purchase a van that he can drive from his wheelchair.

Chris Smith is at 707-521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.