Veterans enjoying their Day at the Fair

Photo by Ray Powell



Bill Patillio and Ray Mitchell long time friends who served together as fighter pilots during WWII in the Air Force chat while enjoying music preformed by the Fort Lee Army Dixieland Band during the festivities on August 27th. On the right is Ron Keeler a Korean War Navy veteran who served on the committee to put together the day's festivities.

Lower left is Virginia Kilmer, who served as a coder and translator in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy and is currently with Valley Health Systems.

374 veterans entered the gate for free that rainy but enjoyable day. Counting the 50 or so we had on the grounds helping put things together we had over 400! We hope that even more will attend in 2009.

Free Concert - Fort Lee Dixieland Band

Free admission to the grandstand on August 27th at 11:30 A.M. until 12:30 P.M. when the Fort Lee Dixieland Band plays in honor of Veteran's Day at the Fair. Veterans and active duty are allowed free admission all day. Civilians may eat lunch from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. using our lunch token system and also see the concert for free. Check ShenCoFair.com for more details.

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Massanutten Military Academy: A Vital Part of Veterans Day at the Shenandoah County Fair

Massanutten Military Academy has been a part of the Woodstock and Shenandoah County communities for 109 years. Founded in 1899, the military program was implemented in 1917. MMA offers a coeducational, college preparatory format where education is the priority; along with a commitment to the development of character, integrity, and good citizenship. All students are members of the Corps of Cadets, and high school students serve in the Academy’s Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps, which consistently earns the designation of Honor Unit with Distinction, the highest rating possible.

A number of Massanutten Military Academy cadets are due to participate in Veterans Day activities at County Fair. Members of the school’s color guard, drill team, and Raiders program will demonstrate skills learned and be available to answer questions from the general public.



The Army Junior ROTC program’s mission is to develop good citizens. The program provides 180 hours of instruction each year in such areas as leadership skills, American history, the Constitution, first aid, physical conditioning, technology awareness, and drill and ceremony.



Massanutten Military Academy offers the nation’s only JROTC summer program for students from other public and private schools who wish to earn high school credit for JROTC. In 2007, nearly 25 percent of the MMA Summer School population enrolled in this program.


Cadets may take part in the JROTC color guard, drill team, and Raider programs. Because Massanutten is an Honor Unit with Distinction, the Academy can nominate qualified cadets to the U.S. Military, Naval, and Air Force Academies and provide assistance to cadets receiving ROTC scholarships to major universities.

In addition, personnel from Massanutten Military Academy’s Admissions Office will be on hand to discuss the benefits of enrolling in the day program. Come and see for yourselves why MMA is one of the best deals in military college preparatory schools in the Nation.

Skyblazers - The Air Force Thunderbirds - Early On.

Skyblazers - The Air Force Thunderbirds - Early On. Talk the pilots Buck and Bill Pattillo on August 27th beginning at 11 a.m. in the Activities Tent. They might even sign this photo for you!

Blackhawk Update! Climb Aboard! Bring the Kids!

Bring the whole family to see this great flying machine! CW2 Virgil Hill Flight Operations, AASF lives in New Market and is the pilot for the flight bring in the Army National Guard's UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter. You are invited to take a look inside and talk to the pilot and crew. The Blackhawk will be in place after 10 a.m. on Wednesday August 27th.

WE LOVE OUR VETERANS

We are your local Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) Addiction Therapists/representatives, and we are proud to be a part of the Veterans Day Celebration at the 2008 Shenandoah County Fair. We are coming upon our second year out in the communities of Stephens City and Harrisonburg and our first year at the fair. We want you to know that we "LOVE OUR VETERANS" and we are here to serve you as you have served us. We are a dedicated team of former veterans who understand your experiences and your needs. We are going to celebrate on August 27, 2008 all that you mean to us and to our country. We look forward to meeting you there. Ya'll come out now, ya hear!!

Contributed by Lillian Turner-Paige, LPC, LMFT

United States Army Veteran

Martinsburg VA Medical Center

Martinsburg, WV