Ashland’s Heartwarming Tribute to Veterans: A Look Back on an Awesome 2023 Veterans Day

Joe Lyons • November 12, 2023

Yesterday, The Ashland Theatre hosted a wonderful event in honor of Veterans Day. They held a free movie screening exclusively for veterans, extending the invitation to a guest as well. Personally, I had the pleasure of attending with my son, and what a fantastic time we had!

Bev Dilgard Evans perfectly captured the sentiment in her heartfelt Facebook post, expressing her gratitude for such an incredible day for veterans. “Today was an amazing day for Veterans. Mayor’s breakfast at the Eagles and The Great Escape movie at our theatre. Thanks for all, very much appreciated.”

To make the event even more special, The Ashland Theatre featured Ashland’s very own Kenneth Hammontree portraying none other than General Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II. It was truly inspiring to see Hammontree actively engaging with the veterans at the theatre.

The movie that was screened, “The Great Escape,” proved to be an absolute delight. Clocking in at nearly three hours, it kept me captivated from start to finish. Starring iconic actors such as Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough, among others, the film expertly captured the suspense and adventure of war. Filmed in Panavision and accompanied by a masterful musical score composed by Elmer Bernstein, “The Great Escape” remains a cinematic classic.

Ann Schar affectionately referred to Ashland as a special place in her Facebook post, applauding Mayor Matt Miller and the numerous businesses, like, Uniontown Brewing, Ashland Schine Theatre, O’Bryans Pub, and Hillsdale Schools, that went above and beyond to honor veterans.

I cannot emphasize enough how much I cherished Veterans Day this year. Once again, thank you to The Ashland Theatre for organizing this incredible event.