KILGOROUND

YES, WE, too, are proud that Texas can boast of six flags.

BUT Nacogdoches, which calls itself the oldest city in the state, claims nine. That city will celebrate its annual Nine Flags Festival Nov. 21- Dec. 13.

FOR those who are curious, the nine flags that have flown over the city of Nacogdoches are those of France, Span, Magee- Gutierrez, Dr. James Long, Mexican, Fredonia Rebellion, Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America and the United States of America.

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TUESDAY is Veterans Day. Not only is it without an apostrophe, it's one of those holidays which doesn't seem to get as much attention as it used to. It gets lost between Halloween and Thanksgiving. It's not even on a Monday. Maybe we need a Veterans Day football game to get it back on the appointment calendar.

IN legislation that passed in 1938, Nov. 11 was set as a U.S. legal holiday to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which officially ended World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. This new holiday, known as "Armistice Day" was dedicated to world peace and honored the veterans of World War I.

HOWEVER, in 1954 after World War II and the Korean War, Congress changed the name from "Armistice Day" to "Veterans Day" in honor of American veterans of all wars. (Our Dad, a WWII vet, until he died continued to refer to it as Armistice Day and clearly pronounced it Are- MISS-tuss Day.)

ON Aug. 4, 2001, the U.S. Senate designated the week of Nov. 11-17 as "National Veterans Awareness Week." This time was set aside for educational efforts to be directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans… a celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

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BOB Davis must be magic.

HE chairs the East Texas Oilman's Chili Cook-off and, in our opinion, the chili gets better every year. If there was one of those spit-out-thechili and-burn-the-spoon recipes this year, we missed it.

KILGORE'S favorite community event included 85 chili teams this year, an increase of two over last year's cook-off. Look for the East Texas Crisis Center to receive something north of $30,000 as a result of the homage to chili.

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HAPPY birthday today, Sunday, to Alice Orange, Tai Duckworth, Laura Ann Mc- Donald, Margaret McElyea, De De Cox, Donna Ann Canterbury, Susan Hooten, Penny Boone, Brandon Ott, Ken Becker, Mattie Coleman, James Henshaw, Shelton Burleson, Brandon Odom

CELEBRATING wedding anniversaries today are Randy and Linda Barton.

HAPPY birthday Monday toJulyann Barbee, Billie Jean Arden, Dicki Mallett, Kit Murphy Jr., Paula Lawrence, Bert Purvis, Charles Ray (Bud) Walls, John Hollis Jones, David Mercer, Sherra Poulter, James Wright Martin Rodriguez Sr., Eddie Adamson II, Mrs. Bernice Pyle, Hunter K. Walden, Becky Lake, Debbie Crews, A.P. Hooks, Becky Barton, Amanda Jones, Martha Knotts, Ed Page, Peter Keiser, Keith Peck, Thomas Cunningham, Jefferey Pace, Mike Hamilton, Terry Ammons

CELEBRATING anniversaries Monday are Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Johnson, Melvin and Vicki Hawkins.