The top portion of the list contains events that are Date Specific and the lower portion contains a list of Daily Events that are held every day. Please be advised that the schedule is subject to change. The Branson Veterans Task (BVTF) may be contacted via email iinfo@bransonveterans.com or via phone at 417- 337-8387 for additional information.

Date Specific

Friday, Nov. 5

10:30 a.m. Opening ceremony for the Vietnam Traveling Wall, Welk Resort (D) NOTE NEW TIME

11:30 a.m. Ribbon cutting by the Branson Chamber of Commerce to officially open Veterans Homecoming 2004 Outdoors Mansion America (E)

Noon Opening Ceremonies Pre-show by American Kids Inc. Mansion America Theatre (E)

12:30 p.m. Veterans Homecoming Opening Ceremony, Mansion America (E) (No admission charge, however a $10 donation is optional) NOTE NEW TIME

BVTF Armed Forces Golf Tournament, Thousand Hills Golf Club ( C)

Saturday, Nov. 6

5 p.m. BVTF VIP Reception Lodge of the Ozarks (by invitation only)

BVTF Armed Forces Golf Tournament, Thousand Hills Golf Club ( C)

Sunday, Nov. 7

8 a.m. POW-MIA Service, (D) Welk Theater, at the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall, conducted by the POW Network.

10 a.m. Barbara Fairchild Sunday Worship Service, (D) Welk Theater, special service honoring veterans. No reservations needed. 417-334-6400

1 p.m. 15th annual Motorcycle Toy Run, starting at Legends in Concert Theater Highway 76 in Branson and traveling to VFW Forsyth.For information call (417) 334-0775. Needed: Unwrapped toys and clean coats.All donations benefit Taney County families.Sponsored by the Freedom of Road Riders Local 15 Branson Tri-Lakes.

8 p.m. Braschler Music Show Salute to Veterans, Victorian Theater, 417-334-4363, $19 a person valid for veteran and spouse

BVTF Armed Forces Golf Tournament, Thousand Hills Golf Club ( C)

Monday, Nov. 8

9 a.m. Free writers workshop presented by Robert Vaughan at BVTF Office (Q) Whether you write your memoirs, record them with the Veterans History Project, or share your story with friends and family, Robert’s workshop will provide valuable information. The author of “Brandywine‘s War,” Robert is the author of over 250 novels, winner of a SPUR Award and a member of the American Writers’ Hall of Fame. He is a retired army warrant officer, a helicopter pilot, who served in Germany, Korea and three tours in Vietnam. For his combat tours he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with the “V” Device, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

10 a.m. Honoring veterans blood drive conducted by Community Blood Center of the Ozarks and BVTF at Mansion America until 3 p.m.

11 a.m.Military Women Veteran’s Social Event – The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB together with the Branson Veterans’ Task Force honor women veterans and active duty military women with an opportunity to meet other women from around the country who share similar backgrounds and experiences. Luncheon at the Radisson Hotel with guest speaker Brigadier General LaRita Aragon, Air National Guard, who, as a school teacher and single mom, enlisted in the Air National Guard and worked her way up the ranks. Following the luncheon, the women in attendance will Ride the Ducks, visit Stone Hill Winery and tour the American Presidential Museum. Dinner will be held at the Lodge of the Ozarks at 5:15 p.m. For more information contact Mary Slivka, Inside Sales Coordinator at the Branson Chamber of Commerce and a US Navy veteran at (417) 334-4084 ext. 317 or via email at mslivka@bransoncvb.com.

1 p.m. – 2 p.m. America‘s Ambassador of Patriotism Mike Radford will be honored with a book signing of his latest book “A Salute to Service” at T. Charleston’s Books, Grand Village on Hwy. 76 across from the Grand Palace

2 p.m.BVTF Lifetime Sponsors Event, American Star. Lifetime supporters are guests by invitation.

Event open to the public for $? Per ticket. Need phone number

Tuesday, Nov.9

BVTF Armed Forces Golf Tournament, Thousand Hills Golf Club ( C)

9 a.m. Korean War Veterans Association Mini-Reunion, (L) until noon at the Settle Inn hosted by the State of Missouri K.W.V.A and the Harry S. Truman Chapter K.W.V.A. (417) 546-3150.

4 p.m. 8th Annual Military Gala & Banquet at the Chateau, call 866-481-GALA (4252) for details.Photographs 4 p.m., Cocktail hour 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 10

10 a.m. KWVA Benefit Show(I) The Dutton Family Theater is hosting a benefit show for the Harry S. Truman Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association, for tickets call local (417) 332-2772, Toll free (888) 388-8661. Tickets $10.

10 a.m. America‘s Ambassador of Patriotism Mike Radford will be honored with a book signing of his latest book “A Salute to Service” at Wal-Mart , Branson Mall on Hwy. 76

6:30 p.m. Dinner with Mamie Eisenhower at the American Presidential Museum

BVTF Armed Forces Golf Tournament Play-Offs, Thousand Hills Golf Club ( C)

7 p.m. Community Choir Sing at Skyline Baptist Church FREE Open to the public

Thursday, Nov. 11

11 a.m. 70th Annual Veterans Day Parade, Branson(11/11 at 11a.m.) The largest Veterans Day Parade to date will feature marching bands, local and national veteran units from across the United States.

2 p.m. Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Salute to Veterans at Mansion America.Tony Orlando returns to honor veterans as he offers his annual Veterans Tribute Show.For reservations call 417-239-1333.

Closing Ceremony time TBD. Join as we close the 2004 Veterans Homecoming Week festivities. Honored guests and dignitaries will be included. All are invited. No admission charge.

Daily Events Every Day:

Veterans Patch Wall, Grand Country Square – Grand Country Music Hall (FREE)

Hundreds of patches collected from all services hold special meaning for each branch, division and unit represented. See this collection in progress. Patch donations welcome. Open all year.

Veterans Registry

Looking for friends from your unit, or hoping someone might be trying to find you?Get your name in the Branson Veterans Task Force Veterans Registry.There is no charge for registering or searches.At three different locations, the Grand Country Inn complex, 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily Nov. 5-10, Mansion America, 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily Nov. 5-10, and the BVTF Welcome Center in The Shoppes at Branson Meadows, 9 a.m. –8 p.m. daily Nov. 5-11..

Mike Radford’s Hall of Heroes (FREE)

A display honoring men and women of every era. Located inside the Radisson Hotel, lower level, next to the Veterans Cafe where coffee is always free to veterans. This stirring tribute includes donated military memorabilia, uniforms and thousands of photographs from families across America. An additional Hall of Heroes is located inside the (R) IMAX Entertainment Complex.

Veterans History Project – VETERANS STORIES NEEDED – FREE

The Branson Veterans Task Force, as a partner with the Library of Congress American Folklife Center, is videotaping for future generations the personal stories of veterans of all branches and all eras.During Veterans Homecoming, these will be taped between 9a.m. and 5 p.m. at three locations: Mansion America Theater, Veterans Memorial Museum/Branson ,and Radisson Hotel BransonThere is no cost to the veteran.

BVTF Armed Forces Golf Tournament

At Thousand Hills Golf Course, all golfers from any branch of the service are invited to tee- up and play. Tournament play is open to singles, doubles and foursomes. Open play times, scores will be recorded and kept daily at the course by branch of service. Tournament play is Wednesday through Sunday. Play-off date is Monday, Nov. 10. Finalists will be notified. $49 per person per round, $99 per person unlimited play all week. Part of the proceeds donated to the Branson Veterans Task Force. Call 417-334-5690 for details.

Vietnam Traveling Wall

The official, half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the most visited memorial in Washington, D.C., will be available for viewing daily at the Welk Resort (Friday Nov. 5 Noon – 10 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 6 through Thursday, Nov. 11 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.) As is customary, the list of names will be read aloud continuously throughout the seven-day period. Opening ceremony, Friday, Nov. 5 at 10:30 a.m. Participating will be Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Pam Tillis and the Lennon Sisters.POW-MIA Service, 8 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 7.

Command Center

The P.O.W. Network will be at the Veterans Homecoming Command Center at the White House West 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Veterans will be served lunch for free courtesy of Golden Corral. Non-veterans will be asked to donate $3 per person. Entertainment, booths, and more. For more information call 866-481-4252.

Discounts:

American Presidential Museum

Free to Veterans all week

American Highrise Mural Display

Outside the Grand Palace

“John Wayne Story” Starring John Wain

Free to Veterans all week

The Jim Stafford Show

$2 discount to veterans all week

50’s At The Hop

$3 discount to veterans all week

Yakov Smirnoff Show

$2 discount to veterans all week

Veterans Memorial Museum

Veterans always receive a $ 2 discount

Great Passion Play

Veterans and Active Military always receive 1/2 off for Great Passion Play, New Holy Land Performance, and Beyond Dickens (Eureka Springs)

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

$4 off for veterans and spouse ALL SEASON!!

Celebrate America

$4 off for veterans and spouse ALL SEASON!!

Tony Orlando “Santa and Me”

$4 off each ticket (Veteran and spouse) ALL SEASON!!