Museum exhibit honors veterans

The Scurry County Museum, 6200 College Ave., is preparing a special exhibit, and will host a reception Monday following Western Texas College’s 11 a.m. observance of Veterans Day.
“We’re working on an exhibit to celebrate Veterans Day. We’re really honored,” said Museum Director Nicole DeGuzman. “We brought in an Air Force veteran, John Rogotzke, to choose some artifacts that will go on display. We have military uniforms from many different branches, and then we brought in Scurry Historical Commissioner Paula Hatfield to put up some portraits of Scurry County veterans.”
The wall of veterans’ portraits is impressive, with 136 men and women representing all branches of the United States military.
“These are many Scurry County veterans. Not all of them, but we have many of them on display,” DeGuzman said. “And we will hang the flags of all five military branches, as well as an American flag and a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag.”
One symbolic item that will be on display is the Missing Man Table, also known as the Fallen Comrade Table.
“This is the Missing Man Table. Everything that’s on the table signifies something that has to do with a POW or Missing in Action,” DeGuzman said. “For example, the round table is everlasting concern by loved ones for the missing. The lemon is the bitter fate of the missing, and so on.”
Western Texas College will celebrate Veterans Day with a special program at 11 a.m. at the main entrance of the college. 
“They have a program, and then we host the reception in the museum,” DeGuzman said. “So this exhibit will go along with that reception. We’ve been doing it for many years.” 
DeGuzman said admission to the museum is free, and it is typically open Wednesday through Friday from 2 to 5 p.m., as well as by appointment. Monday’s reception is also free and open to the public.