Hello Miss-Lou. It is my great honor to let you know about a wonderful event coming in November. It’s the Miss-Lou Patriotic Tribute, a collection of exhibits honoring veterans, rescue workers, those slain on 9/11, patriots and much more. A replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., is one of those exhibits.

This Miss-Lou Patriotic Tribute is the collaborative project of Point Man International Ministries, an organization ministering to veterans and their families; the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Posts and the Natchez Area Community Alliance Foundation. We especially appreciate the Community Alliance for providing its assistance and expertise in our endeavor.

In addition, area veterans and veteran-appreciators have joined our Miss-Lou Patriotic Tribute Committee. I am the event chairman, and a proud veteran. Vice chairmen are Donnie Verucchi, also a veteran, and Col. John Curran. We are among a small army of men and women who have volunteered our time and energy to bring this terrific tribute to the Miss-Lou. The exhibits are owned by American Veteran Traveling Tribute — www.avtt.org.

The exhibits will arrive Nov. 7 with a stirring extensive escort into the Miss-Lou early that afternoon. Doors will open with a formal ceremony at the Natchez Convention Center from noon to 11 p.m., Nov. 8. Doors will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Nov. 9-10. On Nov. 10, Copiah-Lincoln Community College and area Scout organizations will present a formal American Flag Retirement Ceremony, which will be an event not to miss. At 11 a.m., Nov. 11, we will present the Miss-Lou’s Veterans Day Program, again an event not to miss.

The great thing is that the entire tribute is free and open to the public.

Here is what the exhibits will entail:

4 Displays representing statistics from every war/conflict in which the U.S. has been involved.

4 A series of World War II panels portraying the entire timeline of events.

4 A Korean War Tribute representing the timeline of the entire conflict with maps and photos.

4 The Traveling Vietnam Wall: A 50-percent replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial In Washington, D.C., a 360-foot long wall with all 58,253 names.

4 A display of the United States of America’s founding and significant historical documents including the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and other historical documents.

4 Panels honoring law enforcement and firefighters.

4 A 9/11 tribute with the names of all 2,984 casualties by where they were located at the time of death.

4 The AVTT “Gold Dog Tag” display, honoring those who have fought in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This great program isn’t without costs, so we are appealing to our patriotic Miss-Lou friends for help in the following ways: making a tax-deductible donation in one of the following levels: corporate ($2,500 and above); platinum ($1,500-$2,499); gold ($500-$1,499); bronze ($100-$499) and patriot (up to $500). You also may purchase an advertisement in our special keepsake program book. Our rates are reasonable. All donors and advertisers will be acknowledged at the exhibit and in the book. All donors will be acknowledged in a special way in The Natchez Democrat.

If you wish to donate or advertise, please call Donnie Verucchi at 601-807-0534 or e-mail us at miss-loupatriotictribute@hotmail.com

If you wish to join our “army,” please attend our next meeting Wednesday, July 25, 5:30 p.m. at the Win Job Center, Col. Pitchford Parkway.

Thank you and God bless America.

 

Douglas McCallister is a veteran and event director for the Miss-Lou Patriotic Tribute Committee.