As a home and garden show went on inside Becker Village Mall, members of the veterans center were outside cooking chicken plates as a fundraiser.
As he cooked chicken, George Willis said money raised from the sale would support the center and help it pay bills.
Willis said the center wants to buy a talking display which tells visitors in depth about the exhibits. The center also wants to buy a public address system for when it has its monthly veterans ceremonies.
The center continues to grow in its exhibits and photos, Willis said. “We are getting more and more. We’ve got over 1,135 photos. We’re getting more memorabilia in every day. We’re getting authentic and replicas.”
Some of the recent acquisitions include a Vietnamese crossbow, punji sticks, which were used in Vietnam as booby traps, a Viet Cong straw hat and the same model rifle which was used to kill John Kennedy.
The exhibits were donated by local veterans. “We’ve got so many displays you’d never thought that many were involved in the war effort,” Willis said. “It keeps going and going.”
Jones, who splits time with in Virginia and Roanoke Rapids, came to Becker Village Mall for the fundraiser.
“We’re getting more photos, getting more traffic,” he said. “I know there is a lot I never believed people would bring in. We’re glad to have it displayed.”
Jones believes the center has helped further patriotism in the area. “We used to go to ceremonies and there were a dozen people. There’s more patriotism now. I think we woke some of the American spirit up.”
The Pearl Harbor survivor said he was glad he came back for the event. “I’m proud of this and proud of the people who helped me do it. We’ve got a good group of volunteers.”
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