Veterans and Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce officials cut a ribbon to dedicate the new Welcome Home Veterans museum on Main Street Mooresville Thursday. From left: Dave Phillips, Anchor Security & Locksmith (Veteran and chamber board member); author Joe Galloway; Kirk Ballard, Chamber President and veteran; John Hedley, President of Welcome Home Vets Living Military Museum at Richard's Coffee Shop; and Kim Atkins, Mooresville Downtown Commissioner.

MOORESVILLE – A ribbon cutting with a crowd of veterans Thursday morning officially opened the new Welcome Home Veterans Military Museum at Richard’s Coffee Shop in downtown Mooresville.  The new museum is at 165 N. Main St.

Veterans saluted the flag during the museum opening ceremonies. (Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber)

The opening ceremony followed two years of searching for space and fundraising to find a permanent home for the museum. The museum was made possible through a lease-to-purchase agreement with Aquesta Bank.

The museum plans a weekend of events that includes book signings by Joe Galloway, author of “We Were Soldiers Once,” which was also a movie. He’s one of few civilians to ever be awarded the Bronze Star for combat. The  festivities continue through Saturday, during the Race City Festival downtown.

Welcome Home Veterans Living Military Museum at Richard’s Coffee Shop is a tax-exempt 501c3 non-profit organization. The group says it is “dedicated to ensure the memory of, and support to, those who serve,” and “carries forward the core values of Honor, Respect, Duty and Love of Country.” For more information, please visit www.WelcomeVets.com.

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May 15, 2012, “Grand opening for veterans museum at Richard’s Coffee”

Guests explored the exhibits at the new veterans museum. (Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber)

Veterans and their families attended Thursday's opening. (Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber)