EMPORIA – One of the most colorful generals from Kansas will be the focus of this weekend’s “Sundays on the Porch’ event at the Red Rocks State Historic Site in Emporia Sunday afternoon at 2. Emporia State University history professor Chris Lovett will talk about Gen. Frederick Funston, who was the darling of Emporia Gazette publisher William Allen White. Funston, who was from Iola, led the 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American War and the Filipino Insurrection that followed. Funston won the Medal of Honor for his exploits in the Philippines. He was a controversial but effective general whose daring raid captured Filipino president and guerrilla leader Emilio Aguinaldo. However, his treatment of Filipino guerrillas also drew criticism, including barbed, but funny, comments from Mark Twain. Funston also was in charge of the Presidio army post and basically took over San Francisco following the great earthquake and fire. His efforts were lauded at the time, but later harshly criticized. Red Rocks is White’s home. The program is free and open to the public.
Thursday, Feb. 13, 10 p.m.
