Mickey Key, foreground left, sings during a Grand Ole Opry tribute show in 2017.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The Grand Ole Opry tribute show that raised money for the Colquitt County Arts Center in 2017 is turning its sights toward the needs of local veterans.

The Public Issues Committee of the Moultrie Federated Guild is sponsoring the show March 2 to raise money for the Colquitt County Veterans Bus.

The bus, based in Moultrie, provides transportation for South Georgia veterans who need ongoing medical treatment at the VA hospital in Lake City, Fla.

Tom Davis, a retired Army seargent major with 30 years of service, is the current chairman of the Veterans’ Activity and Bus Committee, with which he has worked for ten years. He has played a crucial role in the efforts of this fund raising project.

“Our local bus transports veterans here in Colquitt County but also assists with transportation of veterans in Thomas, Brooks, and Lowndes County,” Davis said. “The bus runs on Thursdays and has been operating for approximately 30 years. Two meals are also provided for the day-long trip.”

Davis urged any local veterans to consider participating in the project.

The Veterans Express Bus was the brainchild of Jerry Poole of the Veterans Service Office in Moultrie. He proposed using a bus to take veterans from here to the hospital with stops at other South Georgia towns to pick up veterans from there. It went through three surplus school buses before a fund-raising campaign helped it buy a brand new bus in 2004.

Roughly 15 years and 200,000 miles later, the project is making plans for a new bus, and the Moultrie Federated Guild hopes next week’s show will provide a nice start.

The Grand Ole Opry style benefit will feature local musicians and singers performing popular songs from some of country music’s greatest stars, including Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, George Jones, Johnny Cash, George Strait, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and others.  

While many old favorites will be performed, several new songs and singers have been added to the show, according to Mickey Key, one of the show’s organizers and performers. This group most recently performed on the square downtown to an estimated crowd of 1,500, Key said and the goal is to sell out the 925 seats at Withers Auditorium.

The performance will be held at 7 p.m. March 2. Tickets are on sale now at Mashburn Printing, the Chamber of Commerce and Everything Special. They cost $20 each.

The Federated Guild’s Public Issues Committee also serves refreshments at the local Memorial Day service and places a wreath on the square during the annual Veterans Day ceremony. Suzanne Mashburn, Bobbie Key, and Carol Ann Horne chair the public issues committee.

“We are extremely grateful for the service and sacrifices our veterans and present-day military have made and continue to make,” they said in a joint statement. “Their bravery and courage provide the freedom this great country enjoys today. But we must always remember this freedom comes with a price. Our veterans and armed forces deserve our respect and support. Please show your support and appreciation for our veterans on March 2nd at Withers Auditorium.”