Veteran’s Day Program at the Star Theatre

Commander Jack Hines, Ret., will be the keynote speaker at a Veteran's Day program to be held at the Historic Star Theater on Main Street in Willow Springs, November 11 at 7:00 p.m.  LCDR Hines retired from the US Navy after 21 years of service as a Rescue Swimmer, Air Crewman, and finally as a Naval Aviator. He served in various campaigns from Operation Earnest Will to Operation Iraqi Freedom.  During three deployments to Iraq, he flew 147 combat sorties, and is the recipient of 7 Air Medals and the Bronze Star. The committee is quite pleased that Commander Hines is our speaker. He will be honoring all veterans with remarks.

 

Also featured, will be a tribute to WWI veterans from Howell County.  These WWI veterans were recruited from Howell and Texas Counties and led by Lt. Joe Ferguson of Howell and Captain Durnell of Texas.  These expeditionary forces were transported to New York and delivered into the front lines of France during the most difficult of battles during the WWI era.  One Willow Springs soldier was awarded the highest honor of the French government. Private Oliver O. Grant, an enlisted man demonstrated bravery and meritorious service in leading an assault on German machine gun emplacements during heated battle.  Pvt. Grant was single-handed in his success in knocking out this machine gun and was 

 

awarded the Croix De Guerre, the highest award of the French Government for the war.  Grant returned home to Willow Springs and was a successful breeder of registered hounds of the Blue Tick variety after the war.

 

There will be short visual film of the WWI era that led to the declaration of Armistice Day.  That was the day when the guns went silent at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.  Thus we have honored veterans on eleventh day of November since 1918.  Noted historian, Lou Wehmer, will provide the historical background of our veterans.

 

The ever-popular musical portion of the program will include WWI songs, "Over There" and "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again".  The program may also include piano renditions of semi-classical pieces and stringed numbers.

For more information 469-2588, Wendell Bailey