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Columbia State Helps Preserve Local Veterans’ Stories for the Library of Congress

Issue #743

June 04, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌤️ Columbia’s Friday Weather - Mostly to partly cloudy w/ high of 86, low of 62

📰 Columbia State Helps Preserve Local Veterans’ Stories for the Library of Congress

🚧 Saturn Parkway Ramps at Kedron Road to Close for Repairs This Weekend

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Columbia State Helps Preserve Local Veterans’ Stories for the Library of Congress

In continuing Columbia State Community College’s commitment to serving and recognizing service members, the college recently collaborated with the Library of Congress in a project aimed at capturing interviews of local veterans.

Columbia State’s Career, Veteran and Transfer (CVT) Center worked alongside the Humanities and Social Sciences Division’s History Department and the Written, Oral and Digital Communication Division’s Film Crew Technology Program to host interviews that are to be included in the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project. 

“The U.S. Library of Congress Veterans History Project preserves veterans’ stories for generations,” said Freda Leslie Pillow, coordinator of the CVT Center. “As the daughter of a U.S. Army military police officer, I am especially honored to help amplify the voices of Giles County veterans through film.”

Established by the U.S. Congress in 2000 as part of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, the Veterans History Project is a national initiative dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the firsthand accounts of America’s military veterans from World War I through modern conflicts. 

The video interviews were held at the HCCF Community Life Enrichment Center in Pulaski. Participating veterans included:

•    Paul E. Adderley, Army
•    Robert Lee Cross, Air Force
•    David Harris, Air Force
•    Paula Harris, Air Force
•    Dr. Brian Puckett, Navy
•    Valencia Puckett, Air Force

This marks the fourth time Columbia State has hosted this event to record veterans’ stories, and the first time in Giles County.

One interviewee shared her thoughts on being interviewed: “This was such a great and vital project because our military stories need to be heard and appreciated,” Harris said. “Heartfelt appreciation and thanks to the members of this project.”

Columbia State’s interview and film team was led by Gregory Mewbourn, associate professor of history; Dr. Thomas Flagel, professor of history; and Freda Leslie Pillow, CVT Center coordinator. Beyond documenting these local stories, the team also worked to connect participating veterans with available resources. 

This initiative marks a meaningful expansion of the project both within and beyond Columbia State’s service area to reflect the college’s ongoing commitment to honoring those who served and ensuring their legacies endure.

For more information on the Veterans History Project, and to watch previous veteran interviews, visit here. 

These documents and interviews will become part of the permanent collections of the Library of Congress and will be made available to researchers and the general public via the American Folklife Center Reading Room and the VHP website. For more information about the Veterans History Project, visit www.loc.gov/vets/. 

VHP also collects oral histories with Gold Star Family members, defined as a parent, spouse, sibling or child of members of the Armed Forces who died as a result of their service during a period of war.

Saturn Parkway Ramps at Kedron Road to Close for Repairs This Weekend

Westbound detour

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will conduct ramp closures on State Route 396 in Maury County.

Beginning Thursday, June 4, through Sunday, June 7, TDOT crews will conduct a full closure of the State Route 396 (Saturn Parkway) eastbound and westbound off-ramps to Kedron Road due to concrete repair operations. This work will take place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on June 4, and will resume at 8 p.m. on June 5 for a continuous closure until 5 p.m. on June 7.

All work is weather-dependent. As always, drivers are reminded to allow additional time, slow down, and move over when traveling through a work zone. The Move Over Law was passed in 2006. The penalty for violating the law in Tennessee includes the possibility of up to 30 days in jail and a maximum fine of $500.

See the suggested detours in the provided photos.

Eastbound detour

Motorists can report potholes to TDOT by calling the TDOTFIX Hotline at 833-TDOTFIX or using this online form: TDOT Maintenance Request. The TDOT SmartWay Map provides the latest traffic updates on construction activity. Travelers can also call 511 for travel information.

Click 👆 for more info

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Friday, June 5th

Saturday, June 6th

Sunday, June 7th

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Friday, June 5
First Fridays with Kit + Char - Puckett’s, 6:30–8 PM
Brothers in Black - Twisted Copper, 6:30–8:30 PM
Scott Burt Big Band - Riverwalk Park, 7 PM
Covered Wagon - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM
Live on the Square - Mambo Maniacs - Puckett’s, 8:30–9:30 PM

Saturday, June 6
The Vineyard Sessions - Natchez Hills Vineyard, 12–6 PM
Martin Lane - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3–7 PM
Jake Clayton Band - The Rebel Bar & Grill, 4 PM
7 X Band - Hampshire Hills Distillery, 5–9 PM
Emma Sangnini - Twisted Copper, 7–8:30 PM
Late Bloomers - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Gritz & Glory - The Boondox, 8 PM
Main Street Vinyl - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM
Micheal Forkuo - Twisted Copper, 8:30–10 PM

Sunday, June 7
Broken Morals Band - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1–5 PM
Todd Ciprian - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 2–5 PM

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