Even with all that was going on in Branson on April 24 and 25, Al Roker coming to town, Great American Pie Show, Missouri Wine Festival, Kewpiesta, etc., Branson’s heart for our nation’s veterans never beat stronger as the community welcomed and honored America’s Purple Heart Recipients. Marlyce Stockinger, Director of Public Relations and Advertising, Branson.Com, said the primary purpose of the event was to honor, as a group, a group of Veterans that has not been honored as a group before, our nations Purple Heart Recipients.

“Hand in Hand Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients,” sponsored by Branson.Com, was a two day event designed to bring Purple Heart Recipients together so that they could fellowship and have fun with each other, while at the same time being honored, entertained, and given information that could be helpful to them. From the events Registration until its last activity, the inspiring and moving “Purple Mountain Majesty Twilight Ceremony,” Branson did just that.

Registration for the event was held at the Factory Merchants Mall in the same “Ready Room” used for “Veteran’s Homecoming Week.” Volunteers Chip and Sandy Milner greeted and registered the Purple Heart Recipients for the event. Coffee, snacks, and soft drinks were provided along with an area that permitted the registrants and their families to fellowship and reminisce. The Milners said that Purple Heart Recipients from as far away as Florida and Michigan had registered.

The Opening Ceremony was conducted at the Hamner Barber Theatre. Stockinger acted as the Master of Ceremonies. After the posting of the colors, the National Anthem sung by Pierce Arrow, and the recitation of the “Pledge of Allegiance,” Mayor Raeanne Presley welcomed the Purple Heart Recipients. Additional entertainment was provided by Dave Hamner and Jim Barber.

Stockinger pointed out that in the planning of the event, although all wanted entertainment and fun, it was suggested that an educational component that might be of help to the attendees after the event was over be included. “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) has a tremendous impact on veterans and their families. Dr. Hemant Thakur, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, is a psychiatrist and a specialist in PTSD.

Dr. Thakur gave in depth information on PSTD designed for the lay person. He very carefully explained the cause of PTSD and its effects not only on the person suffering from it, but their family. His vivid descriptions of specific instances of PSTD actually effecting individuals, their ability to hold a job, and their personal relationships, were very revealing and, in some cases, chilling. He pointed out some of the triggers and symptoms and urged anyone having the symptoms to seek treatment.

At the end of the Opening Ceremony, the names of 25 lucky Purple Heart Recipients were selected to participate in the free Bass Tournament the morning of April 25. They were selected through a random drawing from all of those who had indicated an interest in the tournament when they registered earlier in the day. In addition, from the 25 selected for the tournament, two names were drawn for helicopter transportation to and from the tournament provided by Chopper Charters.

On Saturday morning, April 25, after the bass tournament “take off” at 8:00 a.m. from Tabler Rock Lake’s Moonshine Beach, Purple Heart Recipient Parachutist Dallas Wittgenfeld made a parachute jump from a Chopper Charter helicopter from over 5,000 feet above Table Rock Lake near the dam. As the crowd observed his decent and waited for his anticipated landing near the heliport at the Chateau on the Lake, things got a little more exciting than anticipated as they watched him land at an alternate site because of changing wind conditions.

After the parachute jump, the Purple Heart Recipients and their families were invited to be the guests of the Missouri Wine Festival being held at the Chateau until the weigh-in for the bass tournament at 11:00 a.m. Each team fishing the tournament was composed of a “Boater,” who was either a guide or tournament fishermen and had volunteered their time, boat, skill, equipment, bait etc, and a Purple Heart Recipient.

Although the fishing was tough and no team caught more than one bass, the feelings of Purple Heart Recipient Wayne Joiner seemed to sum up the feelings of all involved in the tournament, “Boaters,” fans, Purple Heart Recipients’ and other volunteers, when he said, “It was wonderful.” First Place in the tournament and a gift card for $500.00, with a total weight of 3.36 pounds, went to the team of Russ Mulsberry (Boater) and Harold Young (Purple Heart Recipient.).

At 2:00 p.m. the Purple Heart Recipients and their guests were treated to the “Hand in Hand Entertainment Show” at the Hamner Barber Theatre. Bob Anderson was the MC of a show that represented the breadth and variety of the entertainment Branson has to offer including, Yakov, The Acrobats of China, Wayne Vincent Landry, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Delena Ditto, Bob Anderson, and Six.

David Hamner and Jim Barber wowed the audience by sharing their new unique, sincere, and personal Veteran’s Tribute called “Thank You’s Not Enough.” It was a very special and emotional moment made even more so by the actual appearance of three survivors of the WWII Battle for Iwo Jima, John Keith Wells, U.S. Marine Corps, Ray Victor Snapp, U.S. Navy, and Richard F. Green, U.S. Marine Corps. Then a First Lieutenant, Wells was the Platoon Leader of the U.S. Marine Platoon that led the attack up Iwo Jima’s Mount Suribachi and planted the first U. S. Flag on its summit.

The last official activity of “Hand in Hand Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients,” was the “Purple Mountain Majesty Twilight Ceremony” at the Branson Landing Fountains on the evening of Saturday, April 25. Hundreds gathered for a special and inspirational program honoring the Purple Heart Recipients. After the posting of the Colors by the College of the Ozarks Branson’s SIX sang the National Anthem.

The Program’s Master of Ceremonies was U.S. Marine Colonel Jack Jackson (ret), who flew over 600 combat missions in Vietnam and has received four Distinguished Flying Crosses, 33 Air Medals, and the Navy Commendation Medal for Heroism and Valor. The events main speaker was U. S. Army Sergeant Major Tony Rose (ret) a “9-11 Pentagon Survivor,” who reminded the audience of what it means to be proud of our Country’s Flag and the price that many have paid so that it is still waving.

Barbara Fairchild performed a medley of the different U.S Armed Forces theme songs. The message of the song, “It Has Always Been The Soldier,” sung by Fairchild and her husband Roy Morris, just seemed so appropriate in honoring the Purple Heart Recipients. Its refrain says, “It has always been the Soldier who has made the sacrifice, standing strong and proud in battle, willing to lay down his life.” As Branson honored the Purple Heart Recipients and those assembled sang “God Bless America,” it was obvious what one of those blessing was.

U. S. Army Colonel James H. Weaver (ret) received his Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam where he flew about 1200 helicopter combat missions and traveled from Corinth, MS to Branson just for the “Hand in Hand Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients” event. He described, in shameful detail, the way he, and his fellow Vietnam veterans and Purple Heart Recipients, were treated when they came back from Vietnam.

He said he and his Vietnam comrades have been through a lot of pain and grief and the event gave him the opportunity to get together with his fellow Purple Heart “buddies” to fellowship and discuss things that will help not only them but other “vets.” Weaver expressed his appreciation to Branson and everyone associated with the event for their efforts and the warm friendly welcome that he and his family had received and said he would be back.