Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Tucumcari Historical Museum on Saturday will host its final special event to mark its 50th anniversary this year with “Honoring Military History.”
All veterans are invited to the day’s activities from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The day will begin with a color guard from Cannon Air Force Base of Portales.
Immediately after the ceremony, Tucumcari Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield will read a proclamation thanking Cannon personnel for their efforts in repainting the F-100 jet on the museum’s grounds during 105-degree heat last month.
Local resident Gregg Sappington will give a history and service record of that F-100 jet at 9:45 a.m. The plane was retired from service during the late 1960s, shortly before the museum opened.
A representative for the New Mexico National Guard will give a history of that military branch about 1 p.m.
Throughout the day will be a display of military small arms from the Civil War to the Vietnam conflict. This is a one-day-only event.
The site of the museum, best known as the former Central School of the Tucumcari school district, served in 1942 as a glider school for World War II pilots.
In the morning, free doughnuts and coffee from Watson’s BBQ will be served. At lunchtime, the museum will serve free hot dogs and red, white and blue sundaes made with homemade ice cream.
For children, the museum will host a paper airplane contest after lunch where several categories will be judged. Activities such as sidewalk art and blowing bubbles also will be offered.