Fort Stewart Hosting First-Ever Army Celebration

A longtime military tradition comes to southeast Georgia tonight for the first time ever. Fort Stewart will host a Twilight Tattoo, an event that celebrates the Army’s Third Infantry Division and its soldiers who have served through the years. The celebration is held several times a year in Washington D.C.

Major Jeff Allen with Fort Stewart says the base scheduled its first Tattoo to coincide with the U.S. Army’s 234th birthday this weekend:

"The Tattoo is going to have music...soldiers on the field, some will be in period costumes to recognize the different eras that our soldiers have served our country. There’s going to be packed Howitzers out doing a gun salute to the nation. There’s a lot of elements to it."

The event begins at 7 tonight on Cottrell Field at Fort Stewart in Hinesville.

'Snoopy Come Home'... from Georgia

A beagle that strayed from a New York City yard five years ago has been reunited with its owners after being found 850 miles away in Georgia.

The supervisor at the Liberty County Animal Control center in Hinesville, Ga., says someone dropped off Rocco the pooch on July 5. A microchip embedded under Rocco's skin helped trace him to his family in Queens.

Natalie Villacis was 5 years old when Rocco disappeared. She says it's like a dream having him back and she's ecstatic.

She says she cried hysterically when he was returned to her last weekend, just like she cried when he vanished in 2003.

Animal control center supervisor Randy Durrence says it's unheard of to reunite a family with a pet after so many years. He says he can't imagine how Rocco made such a journey.

(The Associated Press)

VA to open new outpatient clinics

The Department of Veteran Affairs plans to open four outpatients clinics in Newnan, Brunswick, Milledgeville and Hinesville.

U.S. Senators (R) Saxby Chambliss, and (R) Johnny Isakson, commented on the step, in a statement released by their offices:

“Our veterans deserve access to the very best medical care and services,” said Chambliss, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “The announcement of these new clinics is great news for veterans in our state who have served our nation with honor.”

“This is outstanding news that Georgia will receive four new VA clinics to deliver to our veterans the level of VA care they deserve,” Isakson said. “As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, one of my top priorities is to make sure America takes care of the veterans who have dedicated their lives to serving our country.”

VA officials say they expect to open the community-based centers over the next 12 months. There are 10 VA outpatient clinics operating in Georgia.

Click here for more information about Georgia VA facilities.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of veterans affairs.