Hospice Compassus and Hamner Barber Theater will host a special screening of Honor Flight, a heartwarming documentary about World War II veterans on a trip of a lifetime, on Sunday, April 28 at 3:00 p.m. at the Hamner Barber Theater in Branson. Tickets are free for veterans and $6 for the general public, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting Honor Flight Network. Purchase tickets online at http://honorflightathamnerbarbertheater.eventbrite.com/ or call the Hamner Barber Theater box office at (417) 334-4363.

February will be month of saying thank you to active duty military and veterans.

(Branson, MO)  The Branson Mill Craft Village will celebrate the men and women who have protected our freedoms by hosting Valentines for Vets during the month of February.

“We are inviting anyone who wants to say thank you to a veteran or active duty military member to come into the Branson Mill during February and write a note that we will then send out,” said Branson Mill General Manager, Myranda Zimmerebner.

An original watercolor painting created by Branson Mill demonstrating crafter, Amy Callaway, has been transformed into the postcard that will be sent to service men and women as well as veterans.  In March all the postcard messages will be sent to a hospital for wounded soldiers in Kuwait, the front lines in Iraq and domestic VA hospitals.

“Also during the month of February the Branson Mill will be taking nominations for a veteran or active duty member of the military to win a weekend in Branson,” said Zimmerebner.  “We have great partners:  Legends In Concert, Extreme Thrill Park, Golden Corral and Branson Best Properties.  Together, a fun getaway is being awarded.”

From February 1^st through the 28^th anyone can go to the Branson Mill Craft Village Facebook page to make a nomination.  The Branson Mill crafters will then vote on the posts and award one winner a weekend for two in Branson.  The winner will be announced on Facebook March 2^nd.

“Our Veteran’s Appreciation month will conclude with a big event,” Zimmerebner said.  “Friday, February 22^nd a restored Huey 369 Vietnam Era helicopter will land in our parking lot for the afternoon.  The helicopter will be flying in from Peru, Indiana on its way to Las Vegas.  Branson is one of four stops during its journey.  While at the Branson Mill it will be available for the public to get up close and hear stories about the importance of the American Huey to the Vietnam War.”

The American Huey 369 Organization is behind this landing.  They are building awareness for an American Huey museum in Indiana and the restoration of more Hueys in the future.  Branson is the first public stop on the trip from Indiana to Nevada.  The helicopter will make two refueling stops before reaching Branson.  Updates will be made on the Branson Mill Craft Village Facebook page on more exact landing times.  It is expected to land in Branson around 5pm on February 22^nd.

Details for February events to celebrate veterans and active duty members of the military can be found at www.bransonmill.com or facebook.com/bransonmill.

 About the Branson Mill Craft Village:

 The Branson Mill Craft Village, located at 3300 North Gretna Road in Branson, Missouri, is a specialty retail shopping center and working craft village combined. The heart of the Branson Mill is a working Craft Village of 40,000 square feet devoted to craftsmen demonstrating their skills in leather carving, wood carving, pottery, loom weaving, pen and ink drawings, wood turned pens made with exotic woods, custom embroidery, mosaic art, hand- made musical instruments and much more. In addition to these fine artists demonstrating their skills, there are 150 showrooms of upscale home furnishings, accessories and crafts, with many one-of-a-kind items and best of all it is open to the public at no charge. The Branson Mill Craft Village is open seven days a week.

Tuesday, November 6, at 9 a.m. Veterans Week will begin at College of the Ozarks with an appearance from the Special Forces A-Team. The A-Team will provide a 30-minute lecture and demonstration on weaponry, with a second lecture at 10:30 a.m., held in The Keeter Center’s Royal Oak Forum. School groups are welcome. For group reservations, contact Amy Unruh at (417) 690-2276 or [email protected].

Saturday, November 10, at 2 p.m., College of the Ozarks will honor 14 American Veterans by dedicating Sugar Maple trees in their honor to the Veterans Grove. Veterans Grove honors World War II Veterans who have participated in Patriotic Travel with C of O students. The 14 men honored in this year’s ceremony travelled with students to the Philippines, Pearl Harbor and Japan, or former concentration/death camps in Europe.

Each Veteran is honored with the planting of a Sugar Maple, which is aligned with others to create the same unique pattern of the marble crosses at the American cemeteries in Europe. Next to each Sugar Maple is a bronze marker with a Veteran’s name.

From 3-5 p.m., a World War II mini-reunion will be hosted in the Royal Oak Forum featuring a live performance of the United States Air Force Band of Mid America: Shades of Blue. Cookies and punch will be provided, and guests are encouraged to attend the premiere showing of “A Patriotic Education: To Remember. To Pass It On. And Never to Forget.,” a documentary about students accompanying Veterans to the Philippines and various destinations in Europe. The premiere showing will start at 4 p.m.

All the events are free and open to the public. For more information, please call The Keeter Center for Character Education Office at (417) 690-2242.

Branson, MO ~ Award-winning actor Muse Watson, also known as “Mike Franks” to his thousands of fans, will take the stage at the Starlite Theatre on November 5th to perform an all-inspiring rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, accompanied by the Jerry Ford Big Band Orchestra. As part of the citywide Veterans Day celebrations, the Starlite Theatre will host the USO-canteen-style show, produced by Brenda Meadows, an Army veteran who toured Vietnam in 1968 as an USO performer, and sponsored by Branson Veterans Task Force. Watson will join an all-star lineup in Vets for Vets that will feature many of Branson’s top performers, including Jeanna Kilbane, Army veteran Eddie Stovall and The Platters, award-winning pianist Dino , special guest Eddie Beesley, who lost his legs in 1965 while serving in Chu Lai, Vietnam and many more. Watson’s two brothers served in the Air Force.

This is Watson’s second-year to be in Branson during Veterans week. Last year, Watson spoke at the unveiling ceremony for The Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall at The Welk Theatre and dedicated an American flag to the Branson Veteran’s Task Force. Watson will again be riding alongside Branson Veteran’s Task Force Chairman Ernie Bradley in the 79th annual Veterans Day Parade.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Veterans’ week than with the men and women whose sacrifices make it possible for the rest of us to have the freedom to live our lives….. states Watson ——- ”

Vets for Vets producer Brenda Meadows remembers how important these shows were to men and women during active duty.

“Muse has two brothers who served in Vietnam, so he knows how important entertainment from “home” was to them”, states Meadows. “We are so excited about Muse joining us. He’s so talented vocally as well as has a great deal of heart and gratitude for those who served in the U.S. military. We have adopted him as an honorary vet!”

Vets for Vets is free to veterans and immediate family members.
@ The Starlite Theatre on November 5th, 5-7:15pm. For more information call 866-991-1982

Watson will open his second-year engagement at the Starlite Theatre, starring in A Christmas Snow LIVE November 1st through December 8th.

About Muse Watson: Equally comfortable on the theater stage as he is in front of the camera, Muse Watson first gained notice with several strong performances on stage that helped pave the way for a feature film and television career. His diverse roles in Sommersby, Something to Talk About, Assassins, & Rosewood brought him mainstream recognition but it was the villainous “Ben Willis” in the trendy thriller I Know What You Did Last Summer films and From Dusk Till Dawn 2 that propelled him in the limelight as a chameleonic actor. He made equally impressionable appearances in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and Sundance Film-Festival award-winner Songcatcher, challenging himself by playing unique characters. He co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson in the recently released Meeting Evil and in the soon to be released horror film, Compound Fracture, that stars three of that genre’s most iconic characters, Watson (Ben Willis in I Know What You Did Last Summer), Tyler Mane (Michael Myers in Rob Zombie’s Halloween), Derek Mears (Jason Vorhees in Friday the 13th).

Transitioning to the small screen, Watson delivered stellar performances in several made-for-television movies including Blind Vengeance and Justice in a Small Town; and the television series, American Gothic, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Matlock, The Lazarus Man, JAG, Walker Texas Ranger, Ghost Whisperer, CSI, and The Mentalist. Going on to land his most notorious TV roles as “Mike Franks” in the award winning drama NCIS and Charles Westmoreland in the Emmy & Golden Globes nominated & People’s Choice Awards – winner Prison Break. www.MuseWatson.com

About the Starlite Theatre: The 880-seat Starlite Theatre is conveniently located on Highway 76 near the Titanic and features Branson’s only five-story glass atrium with 19,560 feet of glass. Inside, Starlite’s state-of-the-art stage is the perfect venue for some of Branson’s most popular and interactive shows. For ticket information call the Starlite Theater at 866-991-1982 or visit www.StarliteTheatre.com

See link below for larger view (pdf version)

Marine Corp Ball Service Announcement

Governor Jan Brewer
Thirty years ago today, President Reagan proclaimed August 14 as National Navajo Code Talkers Day – the first official accolade given to these true American heroes following their invaluable contribution to our country’s victory in World War II.

Today, I was blessed with the opportunity to visit the Navajo Nation Veterans Memorial, in Window Rock, as we paid tribute to the more than 400 men whose language was the basis for ‘the unbreakable code’ that proved instrumental in saving countless American lives. As with all of our WWII veterans, the time we have left with our remaining Code Talkers must be cherished. We can never fully re-pay them for coming to our nation’s aid during its darkest of times, but we can honor their service and memorialize their sacrifice.

On this special anniversary, I ask that Arizonans join me in offering our gratitude to the Navajo Code Talkers. As President Reagan so eloquently declared three decades ago, these men “defended the only land they have ever known, asking for nothing more than opportunity in return.”

Students Travel with Holocaust Survivors and WWII Veteran Liberators to Concentration Camps to Learn About Holocaust

Seventeen College of the Ozarks students will accompany four WWII veteran liberators and three Holocaust survivors to Dachau, Mauthausen-Gusen, Gunskirchen and Auschwitz in an educational trip unlike any other. The students will witness the veterans and Holocaust survivors reunite to visit places they haven’t seen in decades.

They will hear stories, first-hand, from the survivors at the prison sites where they once were held captive. They will learn from Veteran Mason “Mickey” Dorsey about the moment his unit discovered Gunskirchen only to find the emaciated prisoners imprisoned and left for dead by retreating Germans. The students, veterans and survivors will have the opportunity to ride in what used to be Hitler’s brass elevator at Berchtesgaden and will share many other powerful moments learning from each other during the trip.

Hopefully this trip will provide a chance for veterans and survivors to find closure to one of the most difficult times of their lives. The students will learn what no history book can teach them; they will, no doubt, be forever changed from this experience.

In 2009, College of the Ozarks (a small work college in southwest Missouri) began sending students to accompany WWII Veterans to learn about history and sacrifice from the men who made it, so that their stories do not die with them. Since then, the College has sent several groups to the visit battle sites in the European and Pacific theatres. However, this is the first time for College of the Ozarks (or any college for that matter) to send students with veterans and Holocaust survivors.

During the trip May 31-June 10, the students will journal and post pictures daily on a blog. Visit http://patriotictravel.blogspot.com to see their amazing journey unfold.

Public Invited to Ceremony on June 2 That Marks Opening of Missouri’s Remembering our Fallen Traveling Memorial Exhibit

College of the Ozarks invites the public to attend a brief ceremony and reception to mark the opening of Missouri’s “Remembering Our Fallen” traveling memorial exhibit on Saturday, June 2, at 3 p.m. in The Keeter Center. Mr. Bryan Cizek, who served in both Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom as a U.S. Army Ranger, will provide brief remarks for the ceremony.

“Remembering Our Fallen, ” a 60-foot wall display featuring the names and pictures of 141 Missouri men and women, was created to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Locally SSG Ronald Blystone, PFC Jesse Givens, SPC Jessy Pollard and SPC Dylan Reid all of Springfield, SFC Robert Pharris of Seymour, SSG James Mowris of Aurora and PFC Matthew Wilson of Cape Fair are honored in the memorial display.

“The College is pleased to host the exhibit June 2-11, before it travels to St. Genevieve, Mo.,” said Elizabeth Hughes, College of the Ozarks public relations director. “It is truly more than an exhibit. It is a reminder of the price of freedom, and ensures that the individuals who paid that price remain in our hearts and minds.”

The display was designed so that it could travel easily to communities throughout the state for a week at a time. It made its first appearance on September 11, 2011, at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, and has made its way to several Missouri cities since.

The public may view the display at the College of the Ozarks Keeter Center June 2-11, anytime Monday-Sunday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. There is no cost to attend the ceremony on June 2 or view the display.

“The College greatly appreciates Branson Veterans Events and Reunions, Branson Bank and Branson-Hollister Lions Club for helping to bring the display to our community,” said Hughes.
One of the College’s fundamental goals is a Patriotic Goal—to encourage an understanding of American heritage, civic responsibilities, love of country, and willingness to defend it.
For more information on the ceremony or display, please contact Public Relations at (417) 690-2212.

The newest game in town is the National Safety Forces Motorcycle Rally, it is a rally for those heroes we often forget to thank, our Military, Police Officers, Firefighters and EMS workers. Although we are thanking those heroes with this rally it is open to all who would like to come see it. No need for a motorcycle just come by Area ’57 in beautiful Branson and see what is there June 7th – 10th, 2012.

We have live music, motorcycle stunt shows, lots of national vendors and hundreds of motorcycles. This is the first year for this rally and we are trying not to be confused with the local Branson Motorcycle Rally. Both rallies are on consecutive weekends but are raising funds for different charities. The National Safety Forces Motorcycle Rally is donating money to the Wounded Warrior Project and to the Ghost Rider Foundation that assists Military members who have post-traumatic stress disorder. We are expecting riders from as far away as California and Ontario, Canada and have reservations at the Ramada Branson from people from Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Houston, Daytona and many others.

Admission to the rally is free and open to the public. We look forward to seeing you there.

Dan Luttrell
NSFMR
Director

WASHINGTON, May 02, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) is proud and honored to salute Mayor Raeanne Pressley and the Board of Aldermen, Branson, Missouri on the occasion of proclaiming Branson as the first Purple Heart City in the State of Missouri.

The public is invited to attend the Proclamation ceremony that will take place at 7:00 PM, Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at City Hall Council Chambers, 110 W. Maddux St., Branson, MO. Already regarded as “The most veteran friendly city in the United States,” by proclaiming itself a “Purple Heart City,” Branson pays special tribute to the almost 2 million dedicated and brave servicemen and women who have either been killed or wounded in combat, and honors not only Missouri’s Purple Heart recipients but all veterans across the nation.

Receiving the Proclamation on behalf of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, will be Everett Kelly, Commander of the MOPH Department of Missouri. Also participating in the ceremony will be Past Department Commander Carl Dietrich and numerous other members of the MOPH from throughout the State of Missouri. In honor of this occasion, Commander Kelly will present the City of Branson a Military Order of the Purple Heart flag to be flown each year on Purple Heart Day, August 7.

The organization now known as the “Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. Inc” (MOPH) was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all combat wounded veterans and active duty men and women who have received the decoration. Chartered by the Congress, the MOPH is unique among Veteran Service Organizations in that all of its members were wounded in combat. For this sacrifice they were awarded the Purple Heart Medal.

With grants from the MOPH Service Foundation, the MOPH and its Ladies Auxiliary promote Patriotism, Fraternalism, and the Preservation of America’s military history. Most Importantly, through veteran service, they provide comfort and assistance to all veterans and their families, especially those requiring claims assistance with the VA, those who are homeless, and those requiring employment assistance. Through the VAVS Program, MOPH volunteers selflessly provide assistance to hospitalized veterans at VA medical facilities and State Veterans Homes.
SOURCE: Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH)