Spring 2011 - Vol. 10, No. 1
Armed Forces celebration By Mindy Honey of the Branson Tri-Lakes News
SCHEDULE
Branson is known for its annual fall celebration of veterans, but now many in the community want to take the city to the next level with a two-day Armed Forces Day Celebration that pays tribute to active duty personnel. “We feel it is important the active duty Armed Forces get as much recognition as the veterans of the past wars,” said June Tillis, interim vice chairwoman of the Branson Veterans Task Force. The 2011 celebration kicks off with a Armed Forces Golf Tournament Friday, May 20, at Thousand Hills Golf Resort. Registration for the 18-hole, four-person scramble begins at 7 a.m. with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. The price is $100 per player and each team may include up to one active duty military personnel for free. “It is like a celebrity tournament, but our celebrities are our active duty heroes,” Tillis said. To register, call 417-337-8387. That evening, the Showboat Branson Belle will present a Special Armed Forces Day Salute. The cruise begins at 8 p.m. When making reservations, mention code 6308 for a special rate. Call 800-417-7770 for tickets. The next morning, Saturday, May 21, the Boy Scouts of America will host a pancake breakfast at the Branson United Methodist Church, next door to Veterans Memorial Museum on 76 Country Boulevard. The breakfast, which runs from 7-10 a.m. is open to the public for a donation and will be free to active duty military and their families. Tillis is hoping many from the community will come out for the breakfast to show their support of U.S. Armed Forces.
Come back for Veterans Homecoming Week Nov. 5-11
• See page 13 for the star-studded lineup “The whole purpose is to have some mingling time with them,” she said. From 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. there will be Armed Forces meet-and-greets throughout Branson. Marines will gather at the Starlite Theatre on 76, members of the Navy will meet at Savannah House at 165 Expressway Lane, the Air Force meet-and-greet will take place at Branson Towers hotel on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, members of the Coast Guard at the Veterans Memorial Museum on 76 and the location for the Army’s gathering is Lodge of the Ozarks. Following the meet-and-greets is a Branson Doesn’t Forget the Armed Forces Show at Tri-Lakes Center on Missouri 248. “I want the meet-and-greets to give them a chance to meet up together and when they get to the show, they sit together,” Tillis said. “We are going to have some great entertainers and we are going to have some great speakers.” Cont. on 8
May 20th & 21st, 2011 Friday, May 20, 2011 • 7 a.m., registration • 7 a.m., Armed Forces Golf Tournament — Where the active duty personnel are the celebrities; one on each team. • 7 p.m., Showboat Branson Belle Special Salute to the Armed Forces Saturday May 21, 2011 • 7-10 a.m., BSA Pancake Breakfast — The Boy Scouts of America will serve pancakes. Open to the public for a donation and free to active duty and their families. • 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Armed Forces Meet N Greet — A reunion of each branch of the military, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Marines. Each will have a special location to come together. • 2 p.m., Branson Doesn’t Forget the Armed Forces Show — A star-studded “USO” style show done as only Branson can.