Students Break Ground For USS Tennessee Museum
HUNTSVILLE - Calling it "another exciting, memorable occasion," Scott High Principal Sharon Wilson
Tuesday morning emceed a 30-minute ceremony for the formal groundbreaking for the USS Tennessee World War II Remembrance Museum, to be built on the Scott High campus.
Wilson was reflecting on the fact that not too long ago, Scott High hosted the formal opening of the student-built and operated Museum of Scott County. And, on this day, a crowd gathered at the site to break ground on another museum - this one to commemorate the U.S. Navy battleship USS Tennessee.
While several groundbreaking photos were taken with different groups, the "official" groundbreaking photo was one comprised entirely of Scott High students - Trades & Industrial Class members who will construct the log home kit, and horticulture students who will landscape the grounds around the building.
The museum's founders, Paul and Karen Dawson, originally from East Liberty, OH, but now of Jacksboro, were on hand for the ceremony, as were representatives of Scott County government, the Board of Education, local veterans organizations and two representatives of the school system's "Partners in Education."
Darlene Branim, executive vice president of Jim Barna Log Systems, stood in for Barna, who is contributing a $60,000 log home kit to house the battleship's artifacts.
Arnold STephens, senior vice president of First National Bank of Oneida, stood in for the bank's president and CEO Michael Swain, and presented Scott High Principal Sharon Wilson with a check for
$5,000 toward the costs of completing and finishing the museum.
Wilson, during her opening comments, gave a brief history of the USS Tennessee, which was commissioned in 1920, survived the attack on Pearl Harbor and went on to participate in 13 major battles in the Pacific during World War II. The ship was decommissioned in 1947 and scrapped in 1959.
She described the Tennessee as "one of the most distinguished battleships ever in the U.S. Navy." Wilson expressed her appreciation to Paul and Karen Dawson for choosing Scott County as the permanent home for the USS Tennessee Museum, to Jim Barna for donating the log home kit that will house the museum pieces,and to First National Bank for its monetary contribution.
Director of Schools Mike Davis, echoing many of Mrs. Wilson's remarks, pointed out her contributions to the Museum of Scott County project, as well as teacher/coach Gary Sexton, who came up with the idea for the museum project. "Without his vision this museum wouldn't be here today." Other faculty members mentioned by Davis for their contributions to the museum project were Daryl Krahn, Freddie Griffith and Sarah Copley, the latter two having now retired.
Davis said that First National Bank and Jim Barna Log Systems had always been "extremely cooperative" of anything to do with education, and thanked both for their gifts.
He also stated that he appreciated the efforts and enthusiasm of the students of Scott High School for embracing the museum project and making it a reality.
In concluding his remarks, Davis told the gathering that he would like to see an endowment established to allow the museum to remain open throughout the year, including weekends, so that it could be open for visitors from across the state and nation.
County Mayor Dwight Murphy took the podium and called the students of Scott High the "true heroes" of the day for their role in building and operating the Museum of Scott County, and the part they
will play in the establishment of the USS Tennessee Museum.
Darlene Branim, speaking on behalf of Jim Barna, said her firm was proud of the students. "It's because of their involvement that we're involved," she said. "We are privileged and honored to be
a part of this project."
After the ceremony was over, Gary Sexton said that fund raising for the USS Tennessee Museum project was now underway.
"The $5,000 contribution from First National Bank will get us started, but we're going to need another $10,000 to finish the building," he said.
It is estimated that $5,000 will be needed for a heating and air conditioning unit, $5,000 for plumbing and wiring, $3,000 for foundation materials and $2,000 for miscellanious interior furnishings such as showcases.
Those wishing to contribute to the project are asked to contact Principal Sharon Wilson at Scott High School (423-663-2801), or any faculty member or student involved with the Museum of Scott County and the developing USS Tennessee Museum.
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