COUNTY LIFE
Cost of Freedom Tribute coming to Decatur this week
The Cost of Freedom Tribute is coming to Wise County March 29-April 2 at the Wise County Fairgrounds in Decatur.
This unique exhibit honoring America’s veterans will be open 24 hours with free admission and free parking. The event is hosted by the Wise County Veterans Group, which has a museum in Bridgeport. The mission of the museum is to provide a tangible experience for visitors that tells the stories of our nation’s wars from the perspective of our veterans, and most particularly those from Wise County.
Wise County Veterans Memorial Park is located in Decatur. The Cost of Freedom Exhibit will be at the fairgrounds located at 3101 Farm-to-Market Road 51.
The exhibit consists of a traveling Vietnam wall with 144 panels containing names of casualties; an Afghanistan and Iraq warrior tribute with 34 panels; a 911 tribute with 12 panels of tower casualties; 1914-1968 covering both World Wars, Korean, Vietnam, Cold War and USS Pueblo; 1979-89 covering the Iran hostage situation, El Salvador War, USMC Beirut, Grenada invasion, Libyan air attack, USS Stark attack and Panama invasion; and 1990-2021 for Desert Storm, Somalia, Khobar Towers, USS Cole attack, Fort Hood attack, Benghazi and post-traumatic stress syndrome.
The event will be heralded with a motorcycle escort on March 28 ending at the fairgrounds. The wall will be set up with opening ceremonies at 2 p.m. on March 29. An information booth will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with locators to find your veteran. There will be guest speakers and recognition of fallen Wise County veterans.
March 29 also is National Vietnam Veterans Day. March 30-31 school field trips are encouraged. On March 31 law enforcement and first responders will be recognized in the afternoon.
On April 1 there will be guest speakers Wise County veterans from the Vietnam War. On April 2 there will be a ride to the memorial and closing ceremonies at 3 p.m.
It’s time to start working on your entry for the 2025 Jim Bowie Days Parade.
The theme is “God Bless Texas.” The entry deadline is 5 p.m. on June 25. Entry forms are available at jimbowiedays.com.
There are four categories for the parade: Youth organization or sports team, civic organization or church, riding club and business.
Kids are encouraged to decorate their bicycles and ride in the parade, and those with antique cars, trucks or tractors should give them a shine. For cowgirls and cowboys bring your horses to town and ride them on the route.
Prizes will be awarded for outstanding entries.
Coming in the June 19 Bowie News see the full calendar of events program for Jim Bowie Days and plan all your family’s activities during this western week of fun.
The Music in the Park Festival organizers welcome guests to enjoy a day under the beautiful oaks of Pelham Park to hear an array of music on June 14 in Bowie.
This free music festival is hosted by the Bowie Community center and R&K Sound Company.
Guests are invited to bring their lawn chairs and set up under the oak trees that fill the park near the amphitheater. This is the second year for this free festival as it expands to a full day.
Live acoustic music opens the free festival starting at 11:30 a.m. with Corben Wolsey, Blake Mangus, Tiffany Chandler, Sara White and Dillon Edwards. Other live music that day will include Bad Daddy Band and Bricktown Band. ZZ Texas, a ZZ Top tribute band, will take the stage at 8 p.m. Live music continues until 10 p.m.
There will be food truck vendors, bounce houses (fee), axe throwing and vendors. Guests are allowed to bring beer in a cooler, but no soda pop or similar drinks. There will be a $5 cooler fee.
Prior to the musical events there will be a 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m. at the Pelham Park Pavilion. Pre-race warm-up begins at 8:10 a.m. and the race starts at 8:30 a.m. There will be first-third place winners in each age category.
Entry fee is $35 and participants receive a T-shirt. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Clear Choice Pregnancy Resource Center.
Those with questions may call Bonnie at 940-872-4861 or Kenny at 817-704-9847. In case of rain the event will be moved into the center.
Nocona Public Library is celebrating summer with lots of activities for kids.
On June 6 the Friends of the Library hosted a Rhyme Time story time. Marcia Williams read “Nothing Rhymes with Orange” by Adam Rex to the children. Lory Hunt helped the kids burn off some energy with a hopping rhyming activity.
Friends of the Library will be hosting its annual summer reading program in July. Check the Library Facebook page for details. Children can pick up reading logs at the library and start reading now.
The Library Advisory Board is having a new program this summer for children in grades 1-5. The Great Summer Adventure is at noon on Mondays in June and July.
Each adventure day begins with a story read by Lory Hunt and is always followed by a surprise. On June 9 the kids were surprised with Taylor Watson’s Petting Zoo. A blind cow named Helen, Pearl the white pony and a white goat named Bell all visited the library. The children had lots of fun petting the animals. Parents can sign children up for this program at the library.
Nocona Public Library is open Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(top photo) The Taylor Watson Petting Zoo was a big hit at last week’s summer reading program at Nocona Public Library. (Courtesy photo)
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