THE CHARMING ECHOES are scheduled to perform “We Love America,” a rousing and inspirational USO Show with songs from the WWII era, on Friday, Nov. 11th at A TASTE OF MISSOURI, 9308 Hwy 76, one mi west of SilverDollarCity from 6-8 p.m.! FREE Admission! Plenty of parking. 10% discount on Missouri-brewed wine and beer for all veterans and active duty during the show!

On November 9, 2011, from 11am – 1pm, the Rose Petal Memorial Service and Women Veterans Appreciation Lunch will honor women who have served their country. Held at the Stone Castle Hotel & Conference Center, Draw Bridge Room, 3050 Green Mountain Drive, Branson, the event is open to women and men who wish to honor women veterans.
Amy Bennett, Missouri Women Veterans Coordinator, will speak at the Rose Petal Service. Bennett has been with the Missouri Veterans Commission since 2010, first as a Veterans Service Officer and as of April, 2011, Women Veterans Coordinator. In her current position she conducts outreaches for women veterans in Missouri, prepares reports to include statistical data reflecting the number of women veterans and is senior editor for the quarterly Missouri Women Veterans Newsletter.
Major (Retired) Vicki Lynn Jones, a decorated US Army veteran, will also be speaking at the Women Veterans Appreciation Lunch. She has the distinction of being the first female helicopter pilot in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, and the first Native American female helicopter pilot in both the Oklahoma Army National Guard, and the U.S. Army.
For the seventh year, the service will pay tribute to women by dropping rose petals into water in remembrance of those who gave their lives.
For registration information, contact Barb Riggle at [email protected] or [email protected], 417-339-6823 or 417-337-8387. The cost of the lunch is $20.00. The registration form will be on the www.bransonveterans.com website.

Several Veterans Events Planned During Veterans Week At College of the Ozarks
By: Matt Farmer

During Veterans week, College of the Ozarks will honor American veterans with the dedication of Veterans Grove Plaza, special guest speakers, and other events November 9-11.

The Veterans Grove Plaza is an expansion of the Veterans Grove. It will display flags representing each branch of the military, as well as the American Flag.

Veterans Grove honors World War II veterans who have participated in Patriotic Travel with College of the Ozarks students. 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.

The events begin Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 9:30 a.m., with a Special Forces A-Team lecture and display at The Keeter Center’s Royal Oak Forum.

On Thursday Nov. 10, at 9:30 a.m., Pearl Harbor witness and survivor Dorinda Nicholson will speak about her memories of the attack. A World War II mini-reunion begins at 4 p.m. Both the lecture with Dorinda Nicholson and mini-reunion will take place in the Royal Oak Forum. At 6 p.m., College of the Ozarks will dedicate the Veterans Grove Plaza on the Alumni Center lawn.

The events conclude Friday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. in the Royal Oak Forum with presentations from Paramount’s Vice President of Productions Stratton Leopold, New York Times best-selling author David Perlmutt and Charlie “Two Shoes” Tsui from the true story Charlie Two-Shoes and The Marines Of Love Company.

All the events are free and open to the public. For more information, please call the Public Relations office at (417) 690-2212.

THE FRANKLIN MINT AND TONY ORLANDO:
A UNIQUE MARRIAGE OF TWO ICONS

TONY ORLANDO JOINS THE FRANKLIN MINT AS A PARTNER AND VICE CHAIRMAN

NEW YORK – June 16, 2011 – Tony Orlando, one of the most beloved and iconic American Entertainers for the past 50 years, has joined forces as a Partner and Vice Chairman with The Franklin Mint, the most trusted brand in the world for Gifts, Heirlooms and Personalized Collectibles.

“No one speaks to America with more passion and credibility than Tony Orlando. He brings a product development and marketing sensibility crafted through his accomplishments. Tony will lead The Franklin Mint’s vigorous efforts to embrace new branding in film, television and music, incorporating all digital and traditional platforms. We are honored to welcome Tony to The Franklin Mint as our Partner, and to our Leadership Team,” said Mr. Robert H. Book, Chairman of the Franklin Mint.

Orlando has also been set for a major role in the next Adam Sandler movie, I HATE YOU DAD!. The film is currently shooting in Cape Cod.

Tony Orlando’s career started at sixteen in 1961. Tony’s commitment to America’s veterans began in 1973 when “Yellow Ribbon” became the anthem for our military. For over three decades Tony was the Vice President of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and hosted the New York portion of the MDA Telethon for his friend,

“The Franklin Mint empowers Americans to share in some of the country’s most poignant moments. I have been a Franklin Mint collector since I was a child. The company has touched America’s heart with its integrity, creativity and quality,” said Tony Orlando. “I am going to work very hard with my Franklin Mint partners, and I will continue to perform around the country and the world. I’m most excited about my newest journey with The Franklin Mint.”

Under Tony Orlando’s leadership The Franklin Mint is planning to introduce the Yellow Ribbon Medal of Freedom, Wounded Warrior Sculpture, the Yellow Ribbon of Freedom Sculpture and several more products that honor the men and women of the United States military.

About The Franklin Mint

An American icon, The Franklin Mint was founded in 1964 and is known worldwide for its innovative design, meticulous attention to detail and creation of the highest-quality gifts, heirlooms, and collectibles in the world. The Franklin Mint’s peerless archives contain over 12,000 products, including Limited Edition fine art sculptures, heirloom dolls, fine commemorative coins, designer jewelry, precision die-cast models and historic reproductions.

http://www.franklinmint.com/TonyOrlando

http://www.franklinmint.com/tonyorlando_video

Author Lecture and Book Signing featuring Dick Hrebik Author, Adventurer, Marine

Saturday, June 11, 2-4 pm at The Murder Rock Club House

Join us Saturday, June 11th at 2pm at the Murder Rock Club House. The Communities at Branson Creek invites you to a special event featuring one of our residents, Dick Hrebik. Dick is an author, historian, adjunct lecturer, actor, singer, adventurer, and retired Marine major who brings humor and challenging questions to his books and speeches. Hrebik holds an MBA degree and is an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). For 22 years he was the Director of Administration of large law firms, including the Washington, DC office of Jones Day. He is a voice from the Silent Generation who has traveled to and lived in 80 countries, having climbed some of the highest mountains in the world.

Dick’s new book, A Warrior Among Us has just been released. Enjoy an authors seminar and a Q & A session on this book and his last work, Corps Vet, A Memoir from the Silent Generation. Both books will be for sale during this event.

Corps Vet tells the story of hope, determination and courage in one boy born to Czech and German immigrant parents during the Great Depression, growing up in a small Southern Illinois coal mining town and a suburb of Chicago. In search of the American Dream, as a teenager, he began traveling around the world experiencing the mysteries of 80 countries, including serving 23 years as a U.S. Marine. He overcame adversity, embraced life changes, met famous people, and had a few thrills and secret missions along the way. Today this member of the Silent Generation remains loyal to God, country and Corps.

The Warrior Among Us – A Warning for America
After the destruction of their home planet, Sarnificus, Deke, who later becomes a U.S. MARINE, and his followers migrate to Earth where they find a politically charged planet in the midst of its own violent upheaval. Led by Deke, the Sarnifikans live secretly among us, actually morphed inside many of us, while studying our warlike behavior and using their advanced knowledge to prevent the disaster that happened on their planet from happening here. But can they? It seems Deke’s nemesis, Ali Khan, has followed him to Earth, along with his Sarnifikite followers and aligned themselves with al Qaeda, bent on world dominance. Instead of bringing peace to us, they hasten the destruction of us through the onslaught of several wars. Can Deke stop them? Can he save Earth?

To learn more about Dick and his books you can visit his web site at www.dickhrebik.com

Come early and enjoy lunch at Glenn’s Restaurant at the Murder Rock Club House and assure yourself a good seat for this great event. There is no cost to attend this lecture, but we do ask that you RSVP. Call Erin at 417-336-0940 to RSVP or for more information.

By:  Shelby Gray

Eighteen College of the Ozark students accompanied by six WWII Veterans, will travel abroad to France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany.

The trip, which will last from June 2-16, will provide students with the experience of a lifetime, as the Veteran’s guide them through the lands where they once fought.

The six Veterans going on the trip served in either the battles of D-Day, Berlin, or the Battle of the Bulge. Of the Veterans John Primerano, Lou Rabesa and Andy Anderson will be traveling with C of O students for the first time and will join returning Veterans Bill Kamsler, Bryan Sperry and Ned Knapp.

While in Normandy, the students and Veterans will have an in-depth visit to the Normandy American Cemetery, where they will attend the official commemorations of the 67th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

In Berlin, they will tour the Allied Museum in the former Headquarters of the American Forces, which commemorates the generations of soldiers and their families who protected Berlin during the Berlin Airlift.

The last evening of the trip, the group will visit the site where Germany finally surrendered on May 9, 1945, which is now known as the German-Russian Museum.

This trip is part of College of the Ozarks Patriotic Education Travel Program, whose mission is to educate younger generations about the sacrifices of American soldiers so that their stories will never be forgotten. Since the program’s beginning in 2009, more than 100 students have escorted WWII Veterans to battlefields and American cemeteries in England, France, Germany, Belgium, Tunisia, The Netherlands, Okinawa, Iwo Jima and Hawaii.

For more information on the Patriotic Education Travel Program, contact The Keeter Center for Character Education at 417-690-2242.

Nearly 100 flags wave in a gentle breeze as residents and visitors drive along the Avenue of Freedom on Gretna Road. For more than ten years, the flags have welcomed veterans and reminded all Americans of the sacrifices of those who protected our freedoms. If you ever took a moment to reflect on the beauty and symbolism of the Avenue of Freedom, I’m sure you mentally said a “thank you” to our active duty military and a “welcome home” to our veterans.

Today the Avenue of Freedom needs your help. Recent storms have destroyed most of the flags and poles, leaving the beautiful drive bare. Our visitors miss the outward proof that Branson is a town committed to America and those who have so proudly served.

The Branson Veterans Task Force no longer has the funding to revive this meaningful tradition. We’re asking for your help – our residents, businesses and visitors. We would love to have new flags in place for the summer season – in time for Flag Day (June 14) and the 4th of July. We’d even rush to get them up for part of Memorial Day weekend if we have the funds.

Please help us! Donations may be made to the Avenue of Freedom at the Branson Veterans Task Force office, the Flag Store or the Veterans Museum, or mail to PO Box 128, Branson, MO 65615. Please make checks payable to “Avenue of Freedom.”

Make a donation, take up a collection at the office or talk to your friends and family. If someone would like to make a donation but can’t take it to one of the above locations, call the Branson Veterans Task Force office at 417-337-8387.

Together let’s beautify our city, welcome our military and veterans, and promote our American patriotism!

Vietnam Veterans of America Branson Chapter 913 Bar-B-Que and Casino Night on May 21. Come join the at the Lyons Club on East 76 at 5:30 pm for a Bar-B-Que dinner and fun playing blackjack, craps and other games with the play money you receive with your admission ticket. The play money can be used at the auction to purchase items donated by Branson and surrounding area businesses. There is also a silent auction going on concurrently where items can be purchased with real money. All proceeds go to the Honor/Color Guard for item expenses and uniforms. Tickets can be purchased from members or at the door. Corporate Sponsorship is also available by contacting Bob Sarver, President, VVA Chapter 913 @ 417-294-0728.

Armed Forces Day Celebration
All Veterans & General Public Welcome
Friday May 21, 2011 – Branson, Missouri

Pancake Breakfast – 7:00 am to 10:00 am

Breakfast will be served by Boy Scouts of America
Branson United Methodist Church

Free to active military and their families. General public welcome with a donation.

Meet & Greet – 10:30 am to 1:00 pm

Each branch of the service will have a special location for their meet and greet time together. Below is a list of those locations.

Air Force: Branson Towers
Army: Lodge of the Ozarks
Coast Guards: Veterans Memorial Museum
Navy: The Savannah House
Marines:Starlite Theatre

Branson Doesn’t Forget The Armed Forces “Big Show”
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Tri Lakes Centre Theatre – Hwy 248

Show: Free

Special guest speaker General Steve Danner, Adjutant General of the Missouri National Guard; a star studded “USO” show done as only Branson can! Featuring Todd Oliver & Irving, The Lennon Sisters, Dave Hamner and Jim Barber, John and Ambrus Presley, Paul Harris and The Cleverlys and much more.

For more information call 417-331-0011

Pre Armed Forces Day Celebration Events
Friday May 20, 2011 – Branson, Missouri

Golf Tournament
7:00 am Registration
8:00 am Tee Times Begin

Thousand Hills Golf Resort

For more information call 417-337-8387

Showboat Branson Belle – “Special Armed Forces Day Salute”

7:15pm Boarding Time
8:00 pm Cruise with Show

Tickets with tax are $44.06 (gratuity not included)

Call 1-800-417-7770 and ask for Special Rate Code #6308
This show will sell out, so make your reservations early!