Have you visited The Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens, Alabama?

 

This is just one of the patriotic activities available for residents in the Huntsville, Alabama metro area.  In this area we are privileged to have the freedom to enjoy life, rear a family, retire –purchase real estate in Huntsville, Al ‘s metro area.

The News Courier- Congratulations to the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives for winning the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association award as the 2009 Attraction of the Year.

 

The award is one of 11 PEAK Awards presented during the AMLA Annual Meeting at Quail Creek Golf Resort in Hartselle, Al on September 24, 2009.

 

The group of awards is the highest achievement in North Alabama tourism, honor individuals and organizations that had had a major impact on tourism in North Alabama.

 

More than 3,600 visitors annually visit the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives.
Dedicated to preserving military history and serving as archives to store artifacts from the Revolutionary War to the present, the museum is not only here to entertain, but also to educate. The facility is toured by many school children each year.

 

“Call to Veterans” was one of the more recent events hosted by the museum where veterans from all over northern Alabama were thanked for their service by being honored with a free meal. More than 400 veterans attended the event and toured the facility.

 

The museum is staffed with volunteer tour guides and a full-time museum director. The museum also preserves history, educates our children and honors those who fought to keep us free.

 

 

Dana Jennings, president-CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association states, “The North Alabama region has positioned itself as a tourist destination and sporting mecca and this recognition would not be possible without the dedication of our industry professionals. Tourism contributed over $2.1 billion to North Alabama’s economy in 2008 and supported over 30,000 jobs in the 16 northern most counties of Alabama.”

 

For a full list of winners, visit www.NorthAlabama.org.

 

The Alabama Veteran’s Museum and Archives is located at 100 Pryor Street, W. Athens, Al  256) 771-7578.

Friday March 6-Time to head back home. We were fascinated by the new bridge being built over Hoover Dam. Greg stopped at a Rest Stop in Flagstaff, AZ so I could walk in the snow and collect pine cones. I couldn’t resist purchasing a necklace and earrings made of natural stones from the Hopi Indians selling off a blanket on the ground. That afternoon we stopped at the Meteor Crater, Exit 233, near Winslow, AZ. (Remember the Eagles song-Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona?) Our tour guide, Eduardo, was fantastic. The impact crater is a mile wide, 2.5 miles around and over 500 feet deep. The largest piece found of the meteor that caused it weighed over a ton but was only the size of a half of a square bale of hay. Some where between Flagstaff and Meteor Crater, the wind started blowing. The gusts were over 65 mph. We walked a short time around the crater, but due to the wind mostly observed it from inside.

Saturday we observed the Pueblo Indian Village at Acoma, New Mexico. The views of the snow topped peaks and panoramic mountains were gorgeous through this area. Our next stop was the Cadillac Graveyard off Arnot Road, Exit 60 on the west side of Amorilla, Tx. A land owner had planted 10 Cadillacs in a field with one end up and one end in the ground. Over the years the cars have been painted with layers of graffiti. You have to stop and see this one time. The wind was still blowing. We even got 35 mpg in a Park Avenue with the wind on our tail. Our last and stop was The Cross outside of Groom, Tx. You can see this cross almost 10 miles away. This is a privately owned inspiration park. It certainly was inspirational. You could feel the presence of God as you walked around the 12 stations of the crucifixion that had been created. Inside the courtyard was a fountain with a statue of Jesus standing with open arms. A great way to end our trip.

Sunday we listened to Rev. Robbie Zachariah and Rev. J McGee on the radio as we finished our travel home with the wind still blowing behind us. Their messages were almost as good as Rev. Rob Jackson’s, our pastor, or John and Glenn Ingouf’s, our Focas Class Teachers, at Central Baptist Church where we attend in Decatur, AL. As we traveled we noticed Spring is coming. The trees are starting to turn that first hint of green and some in bloom with daffodils decorating the ground. We had a great trip, but there is no place like home. Monday morning I will be ready with a fresh prospective to get back to selling real estate in Madison and Huntsville, Al with all the wonderful products and information gathered from the convention.