STARKVILLE — With the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II approaching, some of Oktibbeha County”s biggest history buffs are preparing for a weekend event to honor area veterans.
The World War II Veterans Recognition Program, presented by the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum, Mississippi State University”s Center for America”s Veterans and the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Foster Ballroom at the MSU Colvard Student Union.
Veterans from Oktibbeha County will be honored with steel medallions, provided by Gulf States Manufacturers, along with other gifts. The keynote speaker will be U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., who will travel back to Washington, D.C., shortly after the event.
Among other speakers, those in attendance will get a chance to hear former Mississippi State University Vice President Roy Ruby discuss the history of Oktibbeha County, Starkville and Mississippi State during World War II, and listen to comments from MSU President Mark Keenum.
As the county”s World War II veterans continue to age, the Heritage Museum decided to partner with the GSDP and Center for America”s Veterans to honor them before it”s too late, said Joan Wilson, chairperson of the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum.
“This is the time, really,” Wilson said. “We really appreciate what they”ve done and this is the time to be honored.”
Any Oktibbeha County World War II veterans who want to attend the event can contact Jennifer Gregory at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership at 662-323-3322.
Also this week, a roundtable discussion on the history of aviation in Starkville will take place Thursday at 10 a.m. in the city”s Sportsplex. Ruby will serve as moderator and more than a half-dozen aviation experts will sit on a panel and answer questions from the public.
Heritage Museum board member Bill Poe helped organize the aviation roundtable meeting.
“Starkville was very instrumental in training early World War II aviators,” Poe said. “A lot of people don”t know that, but Starkville really is rich in aviation history.”
The event will take place in the Sportsplex gymnasium, located at 405 Lynn Lane.
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