Recommended
Two Locations
Oxford Downtown Office
124 Hillsboro St.
PO Box 820
Oxford, NC 27565
Ph: 919-693-6125
South Granville Office
1598 NC Hwy 56
PO Box 205
Creedmoor, NC 27522
PH: 919-528-4994
Monthly Membership Meeting
NOVEMBER MONTHLY MEETING
ANNUAL THANKSGIVING BREAKFAST
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26 • 7:30 AM
Food Donations for ACIM • Performance by 82ND Airborne Chorus
The Granville County Chamber’s annual Thanksgiving Breakfast is being held Wednesday, November 26, at 7:30 a.m. in the Family Life Center of Oxford Baptist Church, Main Street, Oxford.
BANDAG, INC. — Mark Averette and his staff — is continuing their sponsorship for this traditional breakfast buffet. The Chamber is appreciative to BANDAG for their support of this popular event. Attendees may anticipate the same wonderful menu, prepared by the cooks at Oxford Baptist Church. The breakfast buffet will consist of bacon, sausage, ham, fried fat-back, eggs, grits, apples, homemade biscuits, milk gravy, etc.
Several years ago, the staff of Royster, Cross and Hensley, LLP challenged all Granville County businesses to participate in food donations for Area Congregations In Ministry (ACIM). ACIM is in DIRE NEED of canned fruit, vegetables and meat. If you or your business does not have the opportunity to donate at a local business collection box, please bring canned food donations to the breakfast. There is no charge to attend the breakfast — just please bring canned goods for ACIM.
This year we are very fortunate to have a return engagement from the 82nd AIRBORNE CHORUS, a nonprofit musical group composed of Division Troopers representing every unit within the Division. An informal organization, the All- American Chorus was formed in November 1967 to sing at Sunday services in the Division Chapel. At that time, the chorus consisted of about 15 members.
Members of the chorus underwent RECONDO training in March 1970 to prepare for their role as the Division’s Long Range Reconnaissance Platoon (LRRP). They recorded their first record entitled “The All-American Chorus,” which contained several songs and ballads about the Airborne and the Army. In February 1971, the chorus was selected by the Division Commander to jump, as a unit, with the MC1-1 steerable parachute, so that assembly time on the ground could be reduced.
During a period of increased emphasis on the All Volunteer Army, the chorus performed at several professional and college baseball and football games as part of the pre-game or halftime ceremonies. Since it was formed, the chorus has performed for several military and civilian dignitaries.
In 1985, the All-American Chorus produced a video for the 82nd Airborne Division to be used by various United States Army Recruiting battalions throughout the country as a tool to interest young people in joining the Army. In September of that same year, the chorus performed on the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.
The chorus participated in Operation Neptune in 1989. The operation was a recreation of the June 6, 1944 D-Day invasion of Normandy France. Like the original invasion, elements of the 82nd Airborne Division were transported to the United Kingdom. There, along with the chorus, they prepared for the jump into France. On the morning of June 6, 45 years and a few hours after the historic invasion, 2,500 paratroopers and the All-American Chorus dropped into a field near Ste. Mere Eglise, France.
After returning from Operation Neptune, the chorus produced their first professional recording since 1970. Also in 1989, the chorus was invited to sing in Washington, DC with country music star Lee Greenwood. Following their return from the Persian Gulf in late 1990, the chorus produced a professional video in June 1991.
To this day, the All-American Chorus performs for various occasions, special events, as well as for many dignitaries. Today the 82nd Airborne Division’s “All- American” Chorus performs throughout the continental United States. Though their primary mission remains serving the soldiers of the U.S. Army and Fort Bragg, their off-post performances continue to increase, so much that they have become one of the Army’s greatest recruiting tools. Appearing in their maroon berets, ascots and highly-shined jump boots, the troopers of the “All-American” Chorus are truly ambassadors for the 82nd Airborne Division.
The chorus’ appearance will make our Thanksgiving Breakfast an even more popular event. Reservations are REQUIRED with one of the Chamber offices.
Contact Theresa Haithcock (South Office), 528.4994 or theresa@granville-chamber.com; or Wanda Garrett (Oxford Office), 693.6125 or wanda@granville-chamber.com, by Wednesday, November 19th.
Email to: Wanda@Granville-Chamber.com