Preservation series salutes Keesler this evening

The month-long Preservation in May series wraps up this evening with a program that will shine a light on the history of Keesler Air Force Base, “Keesler: As Biloxi as Boiled Shrimp and Barq’s.”

During the affair, which runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. inside the Biloxi Visitors Center, Staff Sgt. Amanda Sackett of the 81st Training Wing will tell the story of Keesler, from its humble beginnings in 1941 as a tent city in the middle of the Biloxi peninsula to becoming the electronics training center of the Air Force, and home to the second largest medical center in the Air Force and the world-renowned Hurricane Hunters.

Just last year, Keesler earned the Commander-in-Chief’s Installation Excellence award, signifying Keesler as being the Air Force’s top installation.

This evening’s free program wraps up a month-long celebration of Biloxi’s history, a series that has seen the opening of the state’s first school district museum, a visit from First Lady Deborah Bryant, and a visit to Cedar Lake Island, tracing the city’s history in the timber industry. The award-winning series, now in its eighth year, is designed to educate residents and visitors about the city’s colorful history.

“We’ve had crowds of about 200 people, and we’re expecting the same or more this evening,” said Biloxi Historical Administrator Bill Raymond, one of the organizers of the affair and manager of the Biloxi Visitors Center.

“We’ll also be unveiling a new, month-long exhibition about Keesler as part of the program.”
Brush up on your Keesler history
News and notes

Barry Ball: Moms and Dads, it’s not too late to sign up for the Barry Lyons 2014 Baseball Summer Camp. It begins Monday. To see how your future big leaguer can sign up, click here.

Traffic update: To read the latest on the work on Caillavet Street and Howard Avenue, and to see traffic cameras throughout the city, click here.