Vilonia Eagle

09/23/2025

Car show 9 to 2 p.m. H***y Tonk Kings on the music stage. Food trucks. No charge to tour museum. A win-win for a day of family fun.

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09/22/2025

SIX DAYS.................................

09/21/2025

6 Days...........

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09/05/2025

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09/01/2025

Mark your calendar

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08/28/2025

Ending at the Museum of Veterans and Military History, 53 N. Mt. Olive, in Vilonia, Saturday, the War Hammer chapter of the Punishers will hold a ride-in, honoring the fourth anniversary of 13 U.S. soldiers killed in an enemy attack in Afghanistan four years ago. It is an annual event for the motorcycle organization.
Referred to as “The Fallen 13,” 11 Marines, one Navy corpsman and an Army soldier were killed in a su***de bombing at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 26, 2021, during the U.S. military's withdrawal.
One of the 13, Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, had a strong connection to Arkansas. Hoover, 31, was born in Arkansas and lived in West Memphis for a time. At the time of his death, he lived in Salt Lake City, Utah. He had served in the Marines for 11 years and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, based out of Camp Pendleton, California.
The ride in is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at 100 Court Street in Marion. The motorcycles are anticipated to roar into the museum between 1-1:30 p.m. There will be a memorial program in the museum’s outdoor Peace Chapel following. For more information on the ride, contact Adam Jacks at 501-733-9899. There is no charge to participate. Also, you do not have to ride to attend the program.
In addition, to Hoover, killed were Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, from Lawrence, MA., Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, from Sacramento, CA., Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, from Indio, CA., Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, from Omaha, Neb., Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, from Logansport, Ind., Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, from Rio Bravo, TX., Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, from St. Charles, Mo., Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, from Jackson, WY., Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, from Rancho Cucamonga, CA. and Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, from Norco, CA.
On the museum grounds, there is also a display honoring the 13.

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08/03/2025

Contact Shane Dyson for more information.

07/31/2025

Michael Langford service set

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07/01/2025

The Museum of Veterans in Vilonia, will be closed July 4. We will be open at 9 a.m., July 5.
The Fourth of July is generally celebrated with picnics, fireworks, the American flag and lots of family time. Commonly associated with the military due to the patriotism shown and the fireworks on this day, the shots often heard are gun salutes to represent the original 13 founding colonies. Independence Day is the day the 13 colonies (the United States) declared independence from Great Britain. More importantly, July 4, 1776 is the day the Declaration of Independence was signed.
The Museum of Veterans and Military History in Vilonia, will not be open on the Fourth of July. A majority of the docents, all volunteers, are combat veterans who have spent many holidays away from their families. However, the outdoor exhibits including the Killed in Action Walkway and the Peace Chapel, the K-9 exhibit, a new Vietnam exhibit are always available for those who want a quiet, walk around and self-guided tour. The museum will be open, Sat. July 5.
It might also be a good time to take a little time and read the names of some of the Arkansas Fallen soldiers. Their stories can be found online. It is important for us to remember there will be an empty chair at the table of many families this holiday. Some families will have more than one.
For instance, the Collier family. Army Corp. Gilbert George Collier was born on December 30, 1930 in Hunter, Arkansas. Corporal Collier of F Company, 2nd Bn., 223rd Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division, earned the Army's last Medal of Honor of the Korean War on July 20, 1953. He saved the life of his patrol leader, that day, after the two had been separated from their platoon and were ambushed by a CCF patrol. After killing two enemy soldiers in the firefight, Collier ran out of ammunition. He then used his fists and bayonet to fend off Chinese soldiers trying to drag him away to captivity.
A second empty chair—Army Sgt. Russell Lee Collier is Gilbert’s nephew. He was killed October 3, 2004 in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was awarded the Silver Star Medal. National Guard medic Sgt. Russell Collier was unarmed and tending to a fallen comrade when he was killed. Russell joined the Army as soon as he graduated from high school. He later transferred to the Navy, and after a short time out of the military, joined the Arkansas National Guard in 1999. He had 18 years of service and was planning on retiring, in five months, when his tour in Iraq was to end.
There are many stories to reflect on.
Located at 53 N. Mt. Olive, the museum hours are 9 to 3, Fridays and Saturdays. Also, by appointment for group tours. No charge to tour. For information, call 501-796-8181.

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06/09/2025

View Bobby Richardson's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.