Members of the Sampson County History Museum are ready to honor veterans with a new addition for visitors.

A groundbreaking for the Military Museum is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 11, with a ceremony at 10:45 a.m. The event will commemorate Veterans Day.

Chrissy Carr, administrative assistant for the history museum, is looking forward to the upcoming event. Members of the board are currently raising funds for, and awareness about, the building. Its purpose is to honor Sampson County’s contributions to the United States Armed Forces.

“It will not be done right away, but with the groundbreaking, it will put us one step closer,” Carr said about the project, which may take a couple of years to complete.

The groundbreaking part of the event will begin at 11 a.m. So far, some of the scheduled guest include the Clinton High School Junior ROTC and other officials from the military-related events.

The future building will provide more space for artifacts in addition to paying homage to veterans. There’s more than two centuries of military artifacts in storage. It will be the 11th permanent building added to the museum grounds. Some of the other buildings include the law enforcement museum, blacksmith shop, sports hall of fame, exhibit hall, and the Wooten Store.

“It’s something near and dear to our hearts,” Carr said about the military. “We all recognize our military. It will really honor all the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It’ll be something that will be passed on for generations.”

The museum celebrated 20 years in the summer. It was established in 1997 by the late Henry “Fes” Lee Turlington and David King. The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources gave supporters for the foundation, which is a 1903 two-story house on Lisbon Street in downtown Clinton.

Museum officials and the board of directors are currently taking donations for the military unit. Different levels of giving are available, ranging from Major General ($25,000) to Company ($100).

For more information, contact the museum at 910-590-0007 or by email at [email protected]. Donations may also be mailed to: Sampson County History Museum, 313 Lisbon St., (P.O. Box 786) Clinton, N.C. 28329.

Officials from the Sampson County History Museum are preparing for a groundbreaking event for its new Military Museum.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_Military_1.jpgOfficials from the Sampson County History Museum are preparing for a groundbreaking event for its new Military Museum.
Ground to be broken for new building at Veterans Day event

By Chase Jordan

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Reach Chase Jordan at 910-249-4617. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.