HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - The Kentucky Humanities Council, Inc. along with Kentucky Chautauqua speakers presented Private William Greathouse, Proud Kentucky Militiamen at the Hazard Community and Technical College main campus in Perry County.

The bluegrass’ proudest militiaman came back to life at one eastern Kentucky college.

One of the Kentucky Chautauqua speakers came to tell students the story of the War of 1812. Sixteen-year-old Harry Smith played the role of Greathouse, a man who fought in that war at age 17.

The high school student said it was hard to imagine being in Greathouse's shoes.

“Someone, close to my age, marching hundreds of miles in the wilderness, twenty miles a day, carrying a bunch of supplies and going into war,” said Smith.
“It is just hard to imagine that was the attitude of the people… it blows my mind that someone that young would be willing to do something like that.”

Smith performed a skit to educate college and high school students on the war in celebration of Constitution Day.

Administrators said the bicentennial anniversary of the war made the visit especially important for the city.

“We are trying to impress upon them the importance of local history as well because as our speaker mentioned Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was quite a hero from the War of 1812,” said history Professor Thomas Neace.
“He is our namesake for the city and the county that we live in.”

Kentucky Community and Technical College campuses allowed students and staff to celebrate Constitution Day on other dates as well.