Hundreds of vintage Volkswagen automobiles will be on display throughout the grounds of the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Georgia for the 12th annual "Bugs on the Hooch 2023" event which will take place during Memorial Day Weekend on Saturday, May 27th from 8am-3pm EST. This free to enter, family friendly gathering which is open to the public is organized to benefit the "Wreaths Across America" charity in its efforts at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery that lays the holiday decorations upon the graves of veterans every year during the Christmas season.
Rick Johnson is the event coordinator and owner of Scumbugs, a Volkswagen repair and restoration shop in Columbus that is sponsoring the charitable occasion, who wrote in a recent press release announcing the joyous get together "Memorial Day we pay our respects to those that have served our country and have past away. Our charity of choice is 'Wreaths Across America'. More particularly where my father is buried, The Fort Mitchell National Cemetery. This year alone we raised $25,230 for this worthy cause. Thank you to everyone that joined us." He goes on to continue "First off as you probably know we don’t charge to come to the show. That means FREE for the car owners, FREE for the camping, FREE to the swap meet folks and of course FREE admission to the show. We want everyone relaxed and able to come to the show. Not to mention all the FREE swag we give away. Our goody bags and door prizes are unbelievable (All thanks go to Steve Thompson)."
Free camping on the museum ground begins the Friday evening before the event, which will feature an outdoor drive-in movie on that eve, and continues through Saturday night. Highlights scheduled for Saturday include car judging with trophies, a swap meet, $5 admission to the museum, firing off a massive civil war cannon and an assortment of vintage military vehicles on display.
Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2007 to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine wreath maker Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s yearlong mission – Remember the fallen, Honor those that serve, Teach the next generation the value of freedom – is carried out, in part, each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at thousands of participating locations in all 50 states and beyond.
Fort Mitchell National Cemetery is one of the 130 United States National Cemeteries, located in Fort Mitchell, Alabama, adjacent to the state-owned and operated Fort Mitchell Park. It has interred approximately 5,000 individual since it officially opened its 280-acre (110 ha) site in 1987. It serves as a national cemetery in Federal Region IV, to serve veterans residing in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
According to a description on its official website, the National Civil War Naval Museum houses "the largest surviving Confederate warship, the CSS Jackson, as well as the wreckage of the CSS Chattahoochee. Other exhibits include a replica of the USS Hartford with its berth deck, ward room and captain’s cabin, an actual cutter or "ship's boat" from the USS Hartford, a full scale replica of the USS Monitor’s famous turret, and an immersive panoramic dockside exhibit recreating Plymouth, North Carolina, complete with an exterior and interior view of the CSS Albemarle."
WHERE: 1002 Victory Drive, Columbus, GA 31901
WHEN: May 27th from 8am-3pm EST
ADMISSION IS FREE
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