County Veterans Museum showcases artifacts from World War I to Afghanistan
by Ben Pounds
Scott Nation holds a framed set of letters from a sailor dating to 1918 at the Veterans Museum in the Anderson County Courthouse. It and other artifacts are available for all to view during the Veterans Service Office business hours on week days from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. - Ben Pounds
It was a World War II prisoner of war flag, found at an Andersonville church, with many details unknown, but Gary Jensen wanted to save it for all to see.
“It was going to go in a trash can because no one was sure who to give it to,” he said, adding that he picked it up from another parishioner.
Jensen kept it in a display case at home for years. But this month he gave it to Veteran Service Officer Scott Nation at his office in the Anderson County Courthouse, 100 N. Main St., Room 114.
The flag joined many other artifacts from different years and branches of service from flags, both U.S. and captured from enemies, to uniforms, masks and grenades in a lobby and side room.
Artifacts span World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Anyone interested in seeing those artifacts or in donating other ones can come on Monday through Friday 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
“If they want to stop by and look, feel free,” Nation said.
The museum also is open to non-veterans and even to families with children.
He called the exhibits “near and dear to my heart.”
Nation said there is no formal system for dropping off items, but he would like people to notify the office before bringing them in.
U.S. Army veteran Leon Bradley (foreground) and Air Force veteran Chuck Tanner were each awarded a Quilt of Valor at January’s veterans breakfast, along with Navy veteran Aaron McKenzie (not pictured). - Submitted
Military veterans from Anderson County are invited to come together Saturday (Feb. 14) for the monthly Veterans Breakfast at the Clinton Community Center, 101 S. Hicks St.
The chow line opens at 8:30 a.m. and there will be a brief program at 9 a.m. honoring veterans.
This month’s breakfast, hosted by Anderson County citizens, is co-sponsored by the Clinton Lions Club and Emory Mills Assisted Living/Memory Care Center of Excellence.
The Clinton Lions Club was founded in 1940 and has a long history of helping individuals with vision needs.
This month’s doughnuts are sponsored by state Rep. Rick Scarbrough.
These breakfasts are held to recognize and honor local veterans and their families for their service to the United States.
All of these events will take place at the Clinton Public Library at 118 S. Hicks St.
All Ages
Computer class will be at noon Feb. 13. Learn about Libby, the library’s ebook and audiobook platform, and Kanopy, its movie platform.
LEGO Club will be at 4 p.m. on Thursdays. LEGOs will be available for free building. The event is for all ages but recommended for elementary school students and younger.
United Way Mobile Office hours will be 9 a.m. until noon on Thursday, Feb. 12. A representative from United Way will be at a table in the library to assist community members.
Friends of the Library Bake Sale and Membership Drive will be Feb. 11-13.
Individual memberships are $5. Family memberships are $10.
A Giving Pantry is in the library’s lobby. Take or donate household needs or stable pantry food items.
Teens
Teen Space will be on Wednesdays at 2:15 p.m.
Come hang out with friends, play Wii games and eat snacks.
Adults
Adult Book Club is the first Saturday of each month. March’s theme, scheduled for March 7, will be “Unreliable Narrators.”
Anderson County Schools will offer free developmental screenings in March for infants through 5-year-olds who live in the county.
The screenings, hosted by the district’s Special Education Department, are designed to help parents ensure their children are meeting age-appropriate milestones. Each screening will assess vision, hearing, speech and language, motor skills, social development and preschool cognitive skills.
Screenings will take place in the Central Office Boardroom, 101 S. Main St., fifth floor, Clinton. No appointment is required. Each session will take about 45 minutes.
Screening dates and times:
• Monday, March 2, 2026 at 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.
• Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.
Parents with questiaons about Child Find or the screening process may call the Anderson County Schools Special Education Department at 865-463-2800 — Alex Smith at Ext. 2821 or April Manning at Ext. 2829.
