Welcome to Heritage Days' in Merna, Nebraska

This year we're celebrating the 24th Annual Heritage Days!  The event will be held on July 2nd & 3rd in Merna, NE.

Did you ever wonder what  the first  Heritage Days was like?  In an excerpt from the Heritage Memories Book, Margaret Hall  Baller describes how she felt when she arrived at the very first Heritage Days Celebration  in 1987:

"...the town was in full swing with barrels and ropes barricading the whole Main Street. The town was alive, bustling with activity and enthusiasm.  We were in complete awe of all the entrants in a town so small. The parade involved so many people we wondered who would be left to view it. Well, we were in for a surprise! For as the parade turned from the side street to Main Street, there was a sea of people, eagerly looking our way."

"Saturday afternoon was kept in an uproar, due to all the fun games. Because we spent a considerable amount of time visiting celebrants, most of them we didn't know, we missed a few of those games. The barbecue at the dinner hour was held in a park. The crowd devouring the food was equal to about three times the population of Merna, I assume approximately 1000 people were served.  

"We extend our thanks and gratitude to the Heritage Committee for their unusual talents in being able to put together such a very successful day that will be long-remembered far into the next century.  We have tremendous respect and admiration for the planners, the dreamers, and the doers of this spectacular history of one hundred years past.  Thank you and the town of Merna!  We loved every minute of it!"

History

There were 70 entries in the first Heritage Days parade which Vickie Caudle chaired.  Sue Heffner, Gloria Smith, and Deb Chapin helped her in lining up all the entries. The grand marshals in the parade were all couples from the Merna community who had been married for 50 years or longer by the end of 1987. Nearly 900 years of married life were represented.      

The East Table Club was the overall winner followed by the So and Sew Club.  Other winners were Jim Downey family (Organizations), Reynold's Livestock (Business), Rex & Marvella May (Horse-drawn rig), Amy Seda (Horse & rider under 16), Lewis Swick (Horse & rider over 16), Holly Estes (Bicycle), Mac's Grain (Youth Novelty), Wayne Wright (Antique Car), Steve Hostick (Antique Equipment).  Judges were Terry Weise, Bette Hardy, Margaret Ann Neal, and Phylbert Scott.  Cheryl Smith of KBBN and Matt Downey announced. Other activities that year were the bed races, mud volleyball games, kids races, tricycle & bicycle races, foot races, and raffle. 

New alumni officers elected were Joan Downey, president;  Donald Cantrell, vice-president; Patsy Downey, secretary; and Helen Reynolds, treasurer. The theme for this year's Heritage Days' is "United We Stand".

United We Stand - Military Display

We are planning to honor the living and deceased men and women who have served our great country, The United States of America, in their Branch of Military Service during the past and/or current years.

We will be putting this information on a 12 inch X 12 inch piece of Cardstock. Please try to fit your picture/s and story on that size paper. We are requesting your service information with the included, following information:

• Name and Address
• Drafted, Enlisted or Volunteer Date(s)
• Branch of Military you served
• Basic Training where-dates
• Served in the USA or Overseas
• Where stationed
• Name of Base; Country and Dates
• Rank and Description of Duties
• Discharge date and location where you were discharged
• Any other interesting Service information is WELCOMED    

PLEASE send us a picture of you in your uniform or other pictures that you would like to have displayed.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND ORGINAL PICTURES AS WE DO NOT WANT TO BE RESPONPONABLE FOR LOSS or DAMAGED TO YOUR  PHOTOS. You can send a copy, or digitally scan & send that copy.

DEADLINE TO SEND THE INFORMATION IS JUNE 15th! Please send to: 

Joan Downey 42949 Dale Valley Rd Merna, NE 68856

--or--

Judy Klein POB 125  Merna, NE 68856

The Military stories will be displayed in the Merna Area Community Center on July 2nd, 3rd and 4th.  Everyone will be able to read and appreciate how much the service men and women have done and continue doing for our country. (For more information call Joan Downey at 308.643.2532. United We Stand Flyer with Schedule...)

Committee Meeting

ATTENTION: ALL YOU MERNA HERITAGE COMMITTE MEMEBERS THE MEETING FOR TONIGHT AT 5:00 p.m. HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL TOMORROW, TUESDAY, JUNE 21ST AT 5:00 p.m. AT THE MERNA COMMUNITY BUILDING.