THINGS TO DO

Courtesy photo "Aerial Ballet" by John Moran will be on display Nov. 14

The Museum of Naval Aviation honors area vets

While Veteran's Day remains a heartfelt tribute to the many men and women who have fought and died for our country, two Pensacola residents are calling on the community to recognize today's American troops currently stationed around the globe on Nov. 11 at the National Museum of Naval Aviation.

University of West Florida student Margaret Simms will visit The National Museum of Naval Aviation on Sunday, Nov.11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to spearhead her annual "Project Appreciation." What began as a high school community service assignment has grown into an annual Veteran's Day celebration. Since May 2003, Simms has created more than 100 banners and over 4,000 cards, letters and care packages to send to active duty military in Iraq, Afghanistan, Italy, Korea and Japan. She runs the project on her own, while her family helps pay for supplies and postage. Visitors to the museum will have the opportunity to sign several banners and wish our troops happy holidays while thanking them for their selfless service.

Nov. 11 will also kick-off the Museum's participation in the "Help Them Call Home" program organized by Pensacola residents, Jodi Butler and Pete Southerland, in conjunction with The Marine Corps League.

For every old or used cell phone that is donated, one 250- minute calling card will be sent to a Military Service member overseas. The National Museum of Naval Aviation is proud to be a drop point for this campaign, so please bring your old cell phones to the museum and give back to those that continue to protect our freedom.

Don't forget - on Nov. 15 the United States Air Force Academy Band "Falconaires" will be performing a free concert at 2 p.m. in the Blue Angel Atrium of the National Museum of Naval Aviation. While it is a free concert, tickets are required and seating is limited so make sure to get your tickets today. Log onto www.navalavaiationmuseum.o rg or call 850-453-2389 for ticket locations.

Florida Nature Photographer presents slide show

The Pensacola Junior College Lyceum series presents "Journal of Light: A Photographer's Search for the Soul of Florida," a narrated slide show featuring nature photographer John Moran.

The presentation is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts, Building 15, on the Pensacola campus. Admission is free.

Traveling the Sunshine State with his cameras, Moran seeks his vision of natural Florida as it must have appeared to Ponce de Leon and other early travelers. Moran's portfolio of landscape and wildlife photography ranges from the Gulf to the Atlantic with an emphasis on Florida waters. His photography has appeared in numerous publications including National Geographic, Life, Time, Newsweek, Smithsonian, New York Times Magazine and the National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida.

For more information, call 484-2550 or 484-1503.