By JANIE SLAVEN<br>Record Staff Writer
WHITLEY CITY — How Wilburn K. Ross became McCreary County’s most celebrated veteran has sparked what could become a major attraction for tourists.
Stearns resident David Nutter is a re-enactment enthusiast whose battles of choice were fought in World War II. Despite the fact that none were actually fought inside the continental U.S., such battle re-enactments have been growing in popularity around the country.
It didn’t take long for Nutter to realize there was an opportunity for a show right in his own backyard.
For several months, Nutter has been working with Barthell Mining Camp mother-son operators Marilyn and Richard Koger to recreate German-occupied St. Jacques, the French village which Private Wilburn K. Ross helped to liberate in 1944.
Ross was presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor for his gallantry during the battle and hails from the same western McCreary communities that Barthell seeks to recreate.
Though it is unclear if Ross will be able to return to McCreary County for the event, Nutter feels that this re-enactment is the perfect way to honor McCreary County’s past while celebrating its current emergence as a tourism destination.
“My brother Bill and I began to talk about it last year,” Nutter said. “McCreary County has a medal recipient and tons of veterans who left the coal mines to pick up arms and fight for our freedom.”
Nutter noted that this re-enactment will stand apart from others in that spectators will be a part of the show, receiving papers once they are admitted which they will have to produce upon request by German soldiers.
“It’s a way to show young people that freedom can’t be taken for granted, because you will lose that here,” Nutter added. The actual battle between German and American forces will begin near the church and conclude right in town.
Re-enacters will take part in three shows scheduled for noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 5.
For more information call Mc-Creary County Tourism Office at 376-3008 or visit www.kyvacations.com; or Barthell Coal Mining Camp at 888-550-5748 or:
www.barthellcoalcamp.com
