Thanks to all of you who renewed your Stars and Stripes memberships.  As you probably know, the museum does not receive government funding, so depends on memberships, donations, merchandise sales and fundraisers to operate.

The second annual Stars and Stripes Trivia Night was held at the Dexter Elks Club on Saturday January 27 with 19 tables participating.  In addition to the money raised from the sale of Trivia tables, guests made donations for food and took part in a silent auction.  About $2,500 was raised from this event.

The Wake Foundation hosted their annual Valentine for Veterans on Friday, February 9. Two Stars and Stripes staff members, Charlotte Vandiver and Jim Mayo, were among the 13 individuals recognized at a luncheon at the John J. Pershing Medical Center in Poplar Bluff.  That evening the band Shenandoah entertained veterans and their guests at the Blackwater Colosseum where the museum/library had a display.

Some of the staff members have been working with the Wake foundation to raise money for the museum through the sale of “Remember Those Deployed” T-shirts and other gift shop items as well as raffle tickets for three guns at area gun shows. The guns are a 22 Henry Gold Boy, a 12 gage Dickinson and a .380 Ruger; the drawing will be on April 27.

The museum staff prepared a display focusing on the 50 year anniversary of the TET Offensive for the Vietnam War Veterans Day celebration at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center on the Three Rivers College campus in Poplar Bluff.   The event was held on Friday, March 23 and was hosted by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1056.   

On Saturday, May 19 come and take part in “Drive for Your Community” between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.  We need 350 people to test drive one of Bud Shell Ford’s Lincolns at the Dexter Elks Lodge, 325 N 2 Mile Road in Dexter (next to the Bowling Alley) in order to generate $8,000 for the Stars and Stripes Museum/Library.

If you know of a school group or other organization that would like a group tour of the museum, or if you are someone you know would like to become a volunteer at the museum, please contact us at 573-568-2055. 

Pictured is Jim Mayo of the Stars & Stripes Museum.