“Webster City and the Civil War” begins at 1 p.m. It is free and open to the public. The church is air conditioned.

Michael Eckers, the presenter, has a love affair with the Civil War — and history in general.

“As you walk through Graceland Cemetery in Webster City, it’s unlikely you’ll not encounter the headstone of a Civil War veteran,” he says. “There are over 130 of the ‘men in blue’ who are buried there. Imagine a conversation with them as a group of individuals, each telling their own story of the conflict they witnessed and were engaged in.”

Eckers will present his talk focusing on the overall experiences of these men who settled and lived out their lives in Webster City after the war.

“Each has a piece of the story; together they weave a tapestry of the struggle to retain the Union and ensure freedom to future generations in our country. It’s said that a soldier in the American Civil War fought, perhaps, three or four days a year; the rest of their time was spent marching, or in camp, or foraging for the next meal. That holds true for the first parts of the four-year-long struggle. By late 1864, a new form of fighting was emerging in Virginia. Trench warfare was beginning. It was a style of fighting which would evolve into the static carnage and mass numbers of casualties we know as the First World War of 1915-18.”

In his presentation, Eckers said he will use individuals from different states and fighting units to outline the progress of the war.

“At the same time, the qualities of the men that would live in and shape Webster City later in their lives comes to the surface.”

About Michael Eckers

Michael Eckers is an author, historian and public speaker residing in Iowa. He has been presenting programs on American history for more than 20 years, giving some 250 talks in more than a dozen different states. His audiences range from elementary schools to historical societies and public libraries. Though his focus is on military history, Eckersl has spoken on diverse topics such as the U.S. highway system, world fairs and expositions, Cape Canaveral, and the Transcontinental Railroad.

His speaking involves his audiences and his presentations are multimedia. Every program is followed by question and answer opportunities; Eckers relishes the chance to go a bit deeper on particular points. His love for history is evident in his speaking and writing.

Eckers writes a weekly column for the Daily Freeman-Journal entitled Our Neighborhood. It’s a look at former residents of the area who now reside in Graceland Cemetery, across the street from his home.

“I think honoring veterans is a great way of showing appreciation for those who choose a bit more selfless approach to life. Having a heart to promote and defend freedom has been a vital part of America’s history. Injecting a bit of humor, at times, really helps the lessons sink in … to make the unbelievable more believable.”

Eckers’ books include a series on a fictional family from the Civil War through World War II. He has also written a nonfiction book, “The Boys of Wasioja,” that became an award-winning documentary at a collegiate level. It also was the focus of a large Civil War reenactment in Minnesota during the Sesquicentennial in 2011. His latest novel, “Five for Freedom,” follows a high school basketball team in Iowa from a state championship through the four years of World War II.

Eckers said he firmly believes there is still much good history to write about, whether in published form or a newspaper column.

“My personal mantra is ‘History is something to look forward to.'”