An Ole Seagull has to agree with one of his favorite Branson Mayors, Raeanne Presley, who, over 17 years ago, said, “In a city where Veterans and their families are so central to our core values, it is fitting that we have this permanent memorial honoring America’s military services in the center of our Historic Downtown District.” Those words were spoken by Mayor Presley during a special ceremony held in historic downtown Branson before the start of Branson’s Annual Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2008. The ceremony was to dedicate the first five commemorative squares of what was to be the Branson Star Walk (Walk), a significant tribute to those people and events that have contributed to the history, heritage and entertainment that has made Branson what it is today and America’s military services.
Those first five squares honored America’s military with one for each of the five military branches of service, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps. [#1] Under an agreement between the Historic Downtown Branson Business Owners Association (HDBBO) and the City, the first five squares had to honor each branch of the U.S. Military. They were to be put on the four corners of Commercial and Main Street at the intersection in the heart of Branson’s historic downtown district. Under the agreement, the squares for all other honorees would have been placed south of the military commemorative squares on Commercial Street, but no other honorees have ever been declared under the agreement.
“But Seagull, other honorees aside, there are no military commemorative squares at the intersection of Commercial and Main Street now.” “True, they were removed and moved to Patriot’s Park and set up against a wall during the Phase I of the Downtown Streetscape Project, which started in November 2014.”
“That was over 10 years and $9 million dollars ago. Do the plans for Phase IV and the expenditure of how many more millions contain a provision honoring our commitment to America’s military service by refurbishing the military commemorative squares, adding one for the Space Force, and reinstalling them at the intersection of Main and Commercial Street?” “Sadly, not that the Ole Seagull is aware of.”
“How can that be in Branson, Missouri, the ‘most patriotic city in America?’ The City that proudly wears the mantra of ‘Faith, Family, and Flag?’” “Who knows, but it makes no difference.
What’s important is that the most Patriotic City in America does not go on record as removing what it pledged as a “permanent memorial honoring America’s military services” from its honored position “in the heart of Branson’s Historic Downtown.”
#1 The United States Space Force was not founded until December 20, 2019.
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