Museum Happenings – Alabama Veterans’ Museum
“Vietnam…More than Just a Name,” A Jackie Greenhaw production will be held on Sunday, October 26th at 2:00pm. As in past years, this show will be held at the Athens Limestone County Senior Center at 912 W. Pryor St.
This year’s production is a tribute to all the service men and women that were involved in the Vietnam War, both here at home and abroad. The sacrifices they made, many unappreciated at the time, are now realized as noble and valiant. Today we salute these brave Americans as ‘Heroes,’ putting “service above self” for the cause of freedom.
The show features Forrest Gump, now a grandfather (Papa) and his grandson (Trey). While waiting on the bus, Papa and Trey carry us through the Vietnam era. The opening scene features Forrest (Papa) and his now grown grandson (Trey) visiting ‘Bubba’ at the Vietnam Wall Memorial at Christmas in the future.
Tickets for the show are $10.00 each and are available at the Alabama Veterans Museum. A shuttle bus service will be provided from the DHR parking lot at 1007 W. Market St, Athens. Shuttle service will begin at 1:00pm. Tickets are also on sale for an original Karen Middleton oil painting depicting the war in Vietnam. Tickets are $5.00 for the painting and the drawing will be held just prior to the show.
Hard to believe, but it’s time to start thinking about a parade!!! The seventh annual Veterans Day Parade will be held on Saturday, Nov 8th at 11:00am. Line up will begin at 10:00am at the Athens High School parking lot. The parade will follow the same route as the Christmas parade.
Our Grand Marshall this year will be Retired Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Billy Duncan! Bill was instrumental in getting the museum started and is the founder of our monthly coffee call. CSM Duncan, who joined the Army in 1950 and served over twenty-seven years, was both in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. As a Master Parachutist, he has made over 2,300 jumps. He holds parachute wings from the US, England, France, Norway and Germany. His medals include the Bronze Star with eight oak leaf clusters and the V device for Valor, the Army Commendation Medal with V device and 3 oak leaf clusters, and the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters. CSM Duncan’s jump gear and medals are on display at the museum. Accompanying CSM Duncan will be his lovely wife, Helen Ruth.
Parade entry procedures will be a little different this year. There will not be an entrance fee to participate in the parade. However, if you would like to make a donation, all monies donated will go to support the free community Thanksgiving meal. For more information on the parade or the free meal, please contact Roxanne or Alysha at 256-998-4795. Checks may be made payable to “Helping Limestone County,” or a donation may be made at any Reliance bank.
We still have our Veterans Museum challenge coins for sale! They are going quick, so stop in today and pick one up for $15.00.
By: Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum
