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4-01-08 Etherage Book on Sale at Museum
The biographical novel From Huntsville to Hell by Huntsville writer Guy Wendell Hogue, about Huntsville war Hero, Lt. Col. M. B. Etheredge, is now on sale in the Museum store. Copies are personally autographed by Col. Etheredge.

Etheredge enlisted in the U. S. Army in World War II as a private. His leadership abilities were soon recognized, and he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. He eventually reached the rank of Captain in World War II and was later promoted to Lt. Col. For his heroic exploits Col. Etheredge won 3 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Stars, and 2 Purple Hearts. He was one of the most decorated soldiers of World War II.

After the war Col. Etheredge graduated from Sah Houston State University and served as a professor there for 30 years. He is still very active in the community, and he serves as a member of the Executive Board of the Museum.

2-26-08 NDIA Event Supports Veterans Museum
The Lone Star Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)pledged proceeds from its February 26th banquet to the HEARTS Veterans Museum of Texas. The event was held at the Fort Worth Club with Lt.Gov. David Dewhurst as the keynote speaker. Several members of the Museum as well as State Rep. Lois Kolkorst of Brenham were in attendance.

The Lone Star Chapter is the largest of six chapters spread across the United States. The chapter holds three events during the year with proceeds going to a group selected by the Chapter.

U.S.Marine Corps Col. Dennis Beal, a 1976 graduate of Sam Houston State University, is a member of the board of directors of the Southwest Chapter and was instrumental in helping the chapter sponsor the HEARTS Museum. The Lone Star Chapter is the largest chapter of this organization, Beal said. The NDIA is composed of thousands of defense contractors throughout the United States and puts on hundreds of trade shows a year that specialize in every area of defense and technology prowess.

The Arlington, VA based NDIA is a non-partisan,non-profit association with a mission to provide a legal and ethical forum for the interchange of ideas between government and industry to resolve industrial problems of joint concern.

"This is a chance to showcase the museum to all of these different companies which in turn may generate individual grants from them," noted Museum director Charlotte Oleinik. "Its great to get our name out in front of all of these companies."

From left are Don Hartman,acting President, NDIA; Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst; and Col. Dennis Beal,USMC (Ret), NDIA Board member and National Campaign Chariman for HEARTS Veterans Museum.

9-12-07 Memorial Statue Unveiled during Remembrance Ceremony
Walker County residents honored the fallen heroes and people who died Sept 11, 2001, during a Tuesday morning ceremony at the Nemee Flagpole Plaza.

6-27-07 HEARTS Museum Receives $2 Million State Grant to Construct New Museum
On June 27, 2007, H.E.A.R.T.S Veterans Museum of Texas received a grant in the amount of $2,000,000 from the State of Texas to build a museum. The museum is now in the process of hiring an architect to design and coordinate the construction. The museum is still in need of approximately $300,000 in grants and donations to showcase and display veterans' artifacts, to cover communications of various kinds and to preserve the memorabilia from veterans of all wars. For information about the above, contact H.E.A.R.T.S Veteran Museum of Texas, Charlotte Oleinik, 936-295-5959.

6-27-07 Kolkhorst Announces $2 Million for HEARTS Veterans Museum

4-28-07 Camp Huntsville Marker Dedicated

4-19-07 Arbor Season Program Highlights Dedication of Live Oak Tree
The Huntsville Garden Club TFWC-Woman's Forum dedicated a live oak tree during the Arbor Season program. The tree replaced an original tree planted in November 2004 at the future site of the H.E.A.R.T.S. Museum in memory of the fallen soldiers from Walker County in the Vietnam War.

12-06 HEARTS Museum Receives Strake Grant
The HEARTS Veterans Museum received a grant of $15,000 from Houston's Strake Foundation in December, 2006, according to Museum Director Charlotte Oleinik. U. S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) was instrumental in helping the Museum obtain the grant, Oleinik said. He made the request to the Foundation and handled all the necessary paperwork. Oleinik has spoken with Strake officials, and they are very supportive of the Museum. She stated that the Museum is very grateful for the donation and the grant will be used for operational expenses.

The Museum is currently located in the Huntsville Westhill Mall but plans to construct a permanent home on IH 45 North near the Texas Prison Museum and adjacent to a new emergency shelter already under construction. The Museum will operate and maintain the shelter and use it as a conference center under normal conditions, but it will become a shelter in emergencies such as that caused by Hurricane Rita in 2005.

12-26-06 HEARTS Receives Donation for Permanent Home
Local veterans and community members gathered for a short presentation in front of the museum's current location in West Hill Mall to accept a donation for $50,000 donation from the AT&T Foundation. Pictured from left are Pancho Roberts, AT&T Pioneer; Huntsville Mayor Jay Turner; Charlotte Olienik, HEARTS Museum Director; Whitney Whitmier, AT&T External Affairs Regional Manager; Congressman Kevin Brady; and Walker County Mayor Danny Pierce.

09-11-07 Memorial Statue Unveiled During Remembrance Ceremony
09-11-07 Fallen Heroes Memorial Statute Unveiled During Remembrance Ceremony11-22-06 USO Comes to Walker County
11-18-06 Donated Items To Be Sent To Military Personnel Overseas
11-17-06 Pioneers Donate to HEARTS Museum
11-14-06 Commissioners Hire Shelter Architects
11-13-06 A Wall of Honor
10-07-06 Fraternity To Raise Funds for Memorial
08-16-06 Walker County Earmarked for Shelter
07-25-06 HEARTS Museum Hold Luncheon Recently