For the People

The 60th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor was on Saturday, December 7, 2001. I have a firm commitment to honor our veterans since getting to know so many of them during my years working at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Dallas. Men and women who are willing to stand steadfast in the ravages of war to protect those at home and a country they love, deserve all the respect we can offer. Many gave their lives. Others survived and came home and never talked about this most important piece of their lives.

A small group of veterans and businesses in Van Zandt County and I formed a committee and pulled off a mighty, meaningful project. First, I committed to a special edition telling as many stories of World War II veterans in the county as possible. We could think of no better way to honor the men who served in the armed forces than to get our youth involved and let them hear and tell their stories.

We asked all seven schools in the county to participate and they came through with flying colors. I was so proud of the way the students embraced these heroes and listened to every word. As one student put it, “I’ve read about it in the history books, but it didn’t seem real until I met the men that were there.”

It was fulfilling to meet so many of the WWII veterans. Many of them were sometimes embarrassed to tell their stories, as if they were bragging on themselves. Many said this was the first time they had ever talked about their experiences. Most of them were overjoyed at the interest.

I ended up publishing 30 stories in that special edition and numerous more over the years. I also researched WWII and wrote about the many layers of that time. The issue included men from all branches of the service, women in the WAVES and on the home front, and many others who did their part for victory.

We also collected more than 80 videotaped interviews with the WWII veterans that were given to the Van Zandt County Library of Genealogy and Local History.

Because the project was getting great support from media, businesses, schools, and veterans organizations, and others, somewhere along the way, we decided to have a special USO Show type event on December 7. The horrendous attacks on our country that occurred on September 11 that year gave us pause, but we were well into the planning stages by then and our veterans weren’t getting any younger. So we persisted.

An unexpected 1,100 people attended the event. It featured big band music, slide shows, skits for each branch of the military, the “Andrews Sisters,” “Bob Hope,” jitterbug dancing, and lots of saluting, and photographs of babies with the World War II heroes. Read a full review of the evening HERE.

Find the collection of stories from the December 2001 County Line and the project HERE.

— P.A. Geddie

Writer Madison Payne told us the story of Longview native Karen Silkwood and interviewed her children for the November 2014 County Line Magazine. It was the 40th anniversary of nuclear safety whistleblower Silkwood’s suspicious death on November 13, 1974. She gained national attention after voicing concerns of health and safety issues at the Kerr-McGee nuclear facility in Crescent, Oklahoma.

Her life was the subject of a motion picture titled Silkwood, released in 1983. Meryl Streep portrays Silkwood in the movie with a supportive cast that includes Kurt Russell and Cher.

We’ve stayed in touch with her family and last year did an article update for the 50th anniversary of her death. Silkwood, the movie, is available through DVD and seasonally on Hulu. Several documentary segments are streaming as investigators continue to try to piece together the truth.

Silkwood rests in the Danville Cemetery in Kilgore, with members of both her mother and father’s side of the family.

• Remembering Karen Silkwood. 2014

• Silkwood: 50 Years Later. 2024

Cowboy Tales. Art Exhibition. Winnsboro Center for the Arts. www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com. See an online gallery of the work on www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com/product-category/2025-cowboy-tales

Through November 30

Making a Mark: Women in Early Texas Art. Tyler. Far from encyclopedic, Making a Mark celebrates a few women artists who were active and influential in Texas from the latter part of the nineteenth century through the end of the twentieth century.

While the 17 highlighted artists certainly worked in a broad spectrum of media, the exhibition focuses solely on works on paper. Within that scope, however, the artworks include a variety of printmaking techniques and the direct application of ink, watercolor, pastel and litho crayon on paper.

The artists featured are Emma Richardson Cherry, Marilyn Miller Kincheloe, Julya Kirkpatrick, Kathleen Lawrence, Mary Lightfoot, Verda Ligon, Josephine Mahaffey, Toni LaSelle, Constance Forsyth, Barbara Maples, Josephine Oliver, Janet Turner, Bertha Landers, Mary Bonner, Coreen Spellman, Kathleen Blackshear, and Rosalie Speed. www.tylermuseum.org

Through December 20

Six Degrees of Separation. Longview. www.lmfa.org

Through December 31

Texarkana and the Railroads. Texarkana. The exhibit includes the history of different gauge railways, short lines, freight and passenger service in Texarkana and the surrounding area. Guests see how Texarkana came to be after the implementation and influence of railroads, including interaction with the military, Red River Army Depot, support from the community, and the local economy through the history of the railroad. A tribute to musician David Alexander, Black Ivory King, is on display. He wrote four songs with his interpretation of life and times and the railroad life in the 1930s and 1940s. He wrote the music and lyrics to “The Flying Crow,” “Working for the PWA,” “Gingham Dress” (Alexander Blues), and “Matchbox Blues.” Nearby is the Scott Joplin display. Museum of Regional History. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call (903) 793-4831 and visit www.texarkanamuseum.org.

Through January 1, 2026

Scott Joplin: Father of Ragtime Special Limited Exhibition. Texarkana. Includes two original paintings by Henry Fort II presented by the Texarkana Museums System along with the Scott Joplin Support Group. The two paintings depict Scott Joplin, his music and ties to the community. Titled “Treemonisha – Texarkana, 1866” and “Scott Joplin at Mt Zion First Missionary Baptist Church Texarkana, 1880s,” the paintings are a temporary addition to the permanent Scott Joplin exhibit. “COBRA Ad-Shineum” method from the artist’s master studies at Howard University is represented in both pieces.

The two paintings are part of an expanding collection commissioned and curated by the Scott Joplin Support Group. Texarkana Museums System is offering one-time admission to this exhibit for $5 per person, to include the entire first floor. Each painting depicts an area of town known and believed to be part of Joplin’s formative years in Texarkana from the 1870s – 1880s. Museum of Regional History. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call (903) 793-4831 and visit www.texarkanamuseum.org.

Through January 4, 2026

Assembled: A Look at Contemporary Collage. Tyler. The exhibit focuses on the work of four different Texas-based collage artists. Jerry Jeanmard and Kelly Moran from Houston, Lance Letscher from Austin, and Ellen Frances Tuchman from Dallas all use the technique differently to bring their own artistic vision to life. While each artist has their own unique style, through lines within the medium are revealed when the works are viewed together. www.tylermuseum.org

Through Feb 21, 2026

My Ears to See. Longview. Art by Lee Albert Hill. www.lmfa.org

Flowers and Their Roots. Longview. Art by Diego Loya, tackling the barbed issue of Mexican immigration with powerful and poignant sculptures and installations relating to his family’s heritage. www.lmfa.org

November 9

Palestine Literary Arts Festival. Trinity Valley Community College, Palestine Campus. www.visitpalestine.com

November 9-13

East Texas Pipe Organ Festival. Kilgore. Celebrates the rich tradition of pipe organ music with a series of performances on meticulously restored Aeolian-Skinner organs. www.easttexaspipeorganfestival.com

November 11

Veterans Buffet & Dinner. Pottsboro. Tanglewood Resort Bar & Grill is offering a special from 6-8 p.m. Veterans from every branch are invited to proudly wear their service gear or logo apparel. An all-you-can-eat buffet includes meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, a salad bar, and assorted desserts for just $15. Drink specials include domestic draft beer for $4, imported draft beef for $5, and an Old Glory cocktail for $8. 290 Tanglewood Circle, Lake Texoma. www.tanglewoodresort.com

November 13

Holiday Open House Late Night Shopping. Rockwall. Downtown Rockwall offers a night of laughter, holiday cheer, and shopping in charming boutiques and a holiday pop-up in San Jacinto Plaza with local artwork. https://linktr.ee/downtownrockwall

November 13-16

A Streetcar Named Desire. Longview. www.theatrelongview.com

Pretty in Pink Ladies Night Out. Palestine. Pink décor, cocktails, and pampering. Bralys Hardware. www.eventbrite.com/e/pretty-in-pink-ladies-night-tickets-1366428627809

November 14-16 & 21-23

The Importance of Being Earnest. Greenville Municipal Auditorium. www.showtimeatthegma.com

November 14-Dec 16

The Polar Express Train Ride. Journey to the North Pole with the Texas State Railroad. Guests are welcome to wear pajamas and immerse in reliving the magic of the story with hot chocolate and cookies. www.texasstaterailroad.net/the-polar-express

November 14-December 24

Old Town Carriage Rides. Palestine. Ride in a carriage through the Historic Main Street District, glowing with holiday lights. Sing along to Christmas carols and see the festive sights. https://www.facebook.com/OldTownCarriageService/

November 14-January 6

Once Upon a Small Town Christmas at The Redlands. Palestine. Guests find the beautifully decorated lobby as well as rooms throughout with plenty of photo opportunities. Special activities include the Grinch’s Library, a fun hotel scavenger hunt, and visits with Santa Claus, Santa’s Elf and his Toy Soldiers. Find special treats in the on-site Queen St Grille casual fine-dining restaurant including Saturday and Sunday brunch buffet, as well as a full bar and an art gallery on the lobby level. www.theredlandshotel.com

November 15

Caddo Culture Day. Alto. www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/caddo-mounds

NacoPalooza Music Fest & Pub Crawl. Nacogdoches. www.visitnacogdoches.org

Helene Cronin & Scott White. Longview. www.lmfa.org

Art by the Tracks Holiday Party. Mineola. Live music, drinks, light bites, and art by local artists. 5-7 p.m. Beckham Hotel. Produced by the Commerce Street Collective merchants, who work together to provide memorable shopping experiences. Included are The Beckham Hotel, Horsefeathers Gallery, Gallery 119, Rustic Art Gallery, The Barnyard, and Mineola Music Co. www.artbythetracks.com

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet. Nacogdoches. Turner Auditorium. www.visitnacogdoches.org

Trinity Valley Community College Fall Student Art Show. Athens. Learning Resource Center. (903) 675-6230

Winter Wonderland. Mineola. Shopping. Food trucks. Santa. Live entertainment. Civic Center and RV Park.

UT Tyler, Tyler ISD Partner to Promote the Arts

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County Line Magazine, PO Box 705, Winnsboro, TX 75494

Phone: (903) 312-9556

pa.geddie@geddieconnections.com

www.countylinemagazine.com