There are bus tours and then there was our 8th Cavalry tour in Branson, MO! Our bus driver John was a delight. He regaled us with stories about the area. This included some interesting short side trips, beginning with circling the base of the huge Table Rock Dam and Lake before going across the top to Table Rock Visitor Center. There we watched a video of the building of the dam which was proposed in 1906 and finally completed in 1959 by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/parks/tablerock/ It changed Branson from a sleepy little town to what it is today - a large bustling tourist center for shows and recreation. We stopped on the way down and John pointed out, in the valley below, Andy Williams' house with an outdoor pool. Andy built his house with just one bedroom for himself. His guests stay in his guest lodge next door.

On the return to Branson we drove thru the campus of the College of the Ozarks. Any youth who has good grades but not the funds to attend is accepted. Students agree to work for this privilege. We saw students working in gardens, at the farm, painting, sweeping and were impressed. The streets were named Honor, Tranquility, Honesty and other character building terms. Chapel attendance is required. How refreshing to know there are still institutions based on moral absolutes! http://www.cofo.edu/

Branson was having their yearly two day tent craft sale. A street was blocked off for vendors, food stands and entertainment. Karl and Marge Sharples took part in dancing on the street with a music group. Everyone enjoyed that. There was no lack of little stores to explore or restaurants for lunch. People were very friendly.

The 8th Cavalry was welcomed and recognized by the MC at the Mansion Theatre before the musical "Celebrate America" started. It was a musical journey from signing of the Declaration of Independence to current times.http://www.themansiontheatre.com/show_celebrate_america.html. From there we went across the street to eat dinner.

Last on the tour was a visit to the Veterans Memorial Museum. It honors those who served in WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. Outside was a full size WW2 P-51 Mustang Fighter Plane. Inside is the world's largest bronze memorial sculpture seventy feet long with fifty life-size soldiers storming an imaginary beach. There are ten rooms to explore. Tired but happy we returned to our hotel, Branson Towers about nine o'clock in the evening. www.veteransmemorialbranson.com

credit: Chaplain Peggie Miller