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Veterans Foundation to celebrate anniversary, hold grand opening of museum

By Staff | Sep 9, 2010

Invest in America’s Veterans Foundation is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a block party and grand opening of the Southwest Florida Museum and Library Headquarters on Sept. 11.
Office Assistant Arlene Bush said the block party is being held in honor of the organization’s first birthday to raise money for the foundation’s museum and library.
“It is going to be a new endeavor for us, so we are really excited about that,” she said.
The foundation’s museum and library, which will be located in the old Sweetbay building, will feature such things as nursing and culinary art classes, counseling for post traumatic stress disorder, a hall of honor, veterans counseling gift shop, armed forces exhibits and interactive displays.
“There is really not that type of museum around here,” Bush said. “We are really hoping it will take off.”
The block party will feature entertainment from the Reminiscents, Education Music and an organ player, along with free food for the entire family to enjoy from 11 a.m until 4 p.m.
“We are going to have a lot going on,” Bush said.
Some of the festivities will include a rock climbing wall, 50/50 raffles and 25 vendors.
There are still openings for vendors who wish to participate in the block party, Bush said. Individuals can call 239-541-8704 if they are interested in obtaining a booth.
She said all she asks of the vendors is that any hand-outs they provide to the public they do for free.
“We are trying to incorporate our neighbors as well because we want to be well received in our neighborhood,” she said.
All the money they raise during the block party will be donated to the foundation.
“Come and check us out,” Bush said about the Saturday festivities. “Enjoy your afternoon … it’s a family event.”
The block party will be held at 4826 Candia Street in the Little Italy Plaza.
For information, call 239-541-8704.
The Invest in America’s Veterans Foundation is “veterans helping veterans,” Bush said. Although they provide assistance in many areas, they focus on finding job placement, housing paperwork, military records and counseling.
Bush said there are 70,000 veterans in Lee County, adding that that is “an awful lot of vets for one county.”