GET INVOLVEDFor information on volunteering opportunities or how to donate to the Grundy County Veterans Historical Society museum project, call Y.B. Ashby at 931-779-3462.
COALMONT, Tenn. -- Y.B. Ashby started with a collection of profiles on veterans. Two decades later, he is nearing his goal -- to open a museum.
He heads the Grundy County Veterans Historical Society, a 120-member organization started in 2004 with the goal of establishing a museum for military veterans with local ties.
"Bad things happen when our patriotism sags," the 89-year-old World War II veteran said.
A local museum is one way to educate Grundy County residents about their connection to military service, he said.
But Mr. Ashby's work honoring veterans didn't start with the association. It's taken on many forms over the last two decades.
Twenty-one years ago, when he ran the eight-page weekly Grundy County Post, the paper published a 52-page edition with 500 profiles and photos of Grundy County military veterans.
"We got so many calls," he said. The paper ran a supplement the next month with 300 more veteran profiles.
The newspaper's Veterans Day recognition moved to a local radio station in the coming years and veterans were invited to share their stories for hours on the radio.
That program then transferred to local public access television, where it still runs every Veterans Day, as it has since 1993, he said.
When he and the other association members formed the Grundy County Veterans Historical Society as a nonprofit organization, the first goal was to have a museum for photos, memorabilia and displays honoring local veterans. In 2007, Tennessee Consolidated Coal Co. donated the building in Coalmont that formerly housed the Palmer Church of Christ.
Since then, the building has sat mostly empty. Flagpoles were installed, one for each military branch, the United States and Tennessee state flags. But the doors have not opened. There's more work to do.
During a December meeting, members of the association formed an eight-person committee to complete renovations and plan for an opening of the museum.
Committee member John Ford said they have a meeting planned later this month and will estimate what work needs to be done.
"We're going to auction off the old pews to raise funds," he said. "We will have to do a lot of wiring in order to put lights over documents."
Mr. Ashby has collected more than 1,200 profiles of veterans with Grundy County connections. The profiles will be displayed in a loose-leaf binder for visitors to read.
On Wednesday, Mr. Ashby interviewed Coalmont resident and World War II veteran Roger Erickson about his wartime experiences. Mr. Ashby's grandson, Jason Ashcraft, filmed the interview.
Mr. Ashby and Mr. Ashcraft have nearly 50 videos both of military history and local interviews. They plan to play them as a short film inside the museum once it's completed.
The goal, Mr. Ashby and Mr. Ford said, is to open the museum to the public on Labor Day 2010.
Until then, a sign in front of the church tells the story: "Coming (with your help) Veterans Museum."