VETERANS' RECOGNITION DINNER, OCTOBER 3, 2006

Again last fall JTHS welcomed area service men and women to a buffet dinner. Veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and Iraq were present, and spoke of their military experience. All received the gratitude of those present. High school students paid tribute to the vets, some with words, and some with music, and the program was concluded by a special presentation of "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" by The Maguire Sisters (a.k.a. Nancy Beadnell, Gerri Howe and Irene Hall).

We regret that photos of many of the veterans were unusable, due to this photographer;s limited exerience with a new camera.

A slate of interesting programs awaits you in the JTHS membership year. Come join us!

—January............No meeting. Keep warm!
—February 6......Trivial Pursuit Competition
—March 6............A Winter Gathering of Friends, Potluck Supper 5:30
—April 3...............Milda Burns speaks
—May 1................Antiques Road Show
—June 5..............Sharing Your Genealogical Digs
—July 3................
—August 7..........
—September 4...
—October 2..........Honoring our War Veterans and Servicemen 5:30
—November........Election Day--no meeting. Please vote.
—December 4.....Annual meeting and Christmas Party and Potluck Supper 5:30

Here are some of the projects we have undertaken in the past and some which we continue to pursue:

Since its revival in 1996, the John Thurman Historical Society--
· Published a four-times-a-year historical magazine called "The Quarterly"
· Published a heritage recipe collection
· Published a local poetry collection
· Publishes an annual calendar with historical photographs
· Hosted a rededication ceremony of the historic Harris House
· Hosted the Fiddlers' Jamboree since 1997, helping it grow from an afternoon program to a three-day festival
· Presents an annual tour of old homes and churches, with a different itinerary each year. This year's tour will be held September 23rd, so make your reservation early.
· Convinced the town and county to place a historical marker at the site of the train wreck of 1946 and hosted a dedication ceremony for its unveiling
· Defused a local dispute about the inscription on a veterans' memorial by paying to have the second side of the monument engraved with additional messages.
· Honors veterans each fall at a Veterans' Appreciation Dinner.
· Helped decorate a vintage train car for the Upper Hudson River Railroad and helped to host "Thurman Day" at the North Creek Depot (North Creek having once been part of the Town of Thurman)
· Participated in the bicentennial celebrations of Chestertown and Bolton, two other towns formed from the original town of Thurman
· Initiated an oral history program, in which senior citizens' memories are preserved on tape
· Meets each month except November and January, presenting entertaining and informational programs free to the public