Mel and Majorie Dean Hammon
JUNE 18 , 1987 This is my Aunt and Uncle who I am so proud of ! I love you Guys ! TINA
ALTHOUGH MEL AND MAJORIE HAMMON LEFT GREENE COUNTY FOR MICHIGAN YEARS AGO , THEY RETAINED THEIR SOUTHERN HERITAGE . BECAUSE OF THAT , MEL HAMMON'S OLD SOUTH , A GROUP IN WHICH THE TWO ARE MEMBERS , WAS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A SPECIAL CELEBRATION SPONSERED BY SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION IN WASHINGTON , D.C. THE COUPLE'S SON , RON , AND MEL'S BROTHER , GEORGE , ROUND OUT THE GROUP . THE QUARTET WAS CHOSEN FROM HUNDREDS OF MICHIGAN GROUPS TO PERFORM AT THE MALL ON THE GREEN IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL JUNE 22 THROUGH JULY 6 TO CELEBRATE MICHAGAN'S SESQUICECENTENNIAL . THE GROUP'S PERFORMANCE WILL BE RECORDED AND STORED PERMANENTLY IN THE INSTITUTION'S ARCHIVES , MRS. HAMMON SAID. "WE CONSIDER IT QUITE AN HONOR , " HER HUSBAND SAID . THE OLE SOUTH WILL PERFORM IN A SECTION OF THE MALL WHICH WILL HIGHLIGHT THE MIGRATION OF SOUTHERNERS TO THE NORTH . " WE BROUGHT OUR SOUTHERN HERITAGE WITH US (WHEN WE MOVED ) AND WE'VE KEPT IT , " SHE SAID.
A VARIETY OF MUSICIANS , A SNOWSHOE MAKER , A BLACKSMITH AND A CRAFTSMEN OF ALL TYPES WILL BE FEATURED AT THE EXHIBITION , THEY EXPLAINED . THE HAMMONS , WHO LIVE IN DAVISON , MICH., ARE IN PARAGOULD THIS WEEK FOR A FAMILY REUNION. SINCE SEVERAL HAMMONS ARE MUSICALLY INCLINED , THEY PLAN TO PLAY AND SING IN THE SOUTH - AN APPROPRIATE NAME - LOBBY OF THE GREENE COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER TONIGHT. THE EVENT WILL BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE REUNION , TILLIE HAMMON RICHMOND SAID. THE PRACTICE COULDN'T HURT , BECAUSE WHEN THE OLD SOUTH GETS TO WASHINGTON THE GROUP WILL STAY PRETTY BUSY . THE DAYS WE DON'T PERFORM , THEY'LL FURNISH A BUS TO TAKE US TO SEE ALL THE SIGHTS , " MRS. HAMMON SAID . " THERE ARE LOTS OF ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR US. " "THEY'VE ALREADY SENT US ROUND TRIP TICKETS AND WE'VE GOT RESERVATIONS AT THE CLARION HOTEL IN ARLINGTON , VA. " HAMMON SAID. ALTHOUGH THE COUPLE CLAIMS MICHIGAN AS THEIR HOME , THEY HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ARKANSAS . IN FACT THEY PALN TO SING A SONG ENTITLED " GREENE COUNTY , ARKANSAS " AT THE NATIONAL CELEBRATION . "WE PLAN TO SING IT (IN WASHINGTON ) , ) " SHE SAID . " ARKANSAS WILL BE THERE ." THE OLD SOUTH WILL BE THE ONLY BAND PERFORMING TRADITIONAL AND BLUEGRASS MUSIC , THEY EXPLAINED. " THIS TYPE OF MUSIC COULD COMPLETELY DISAPPEAR FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH , " HE SAID . " YOU NEVER HEAR IT ON THE TV OR RADIO. WE'RE KEEPING IT GOING ." WHEN THEY RETURN TO MICHIGAN FROM WASHINGTON , D.C. FESTIVITIES , THEY WILL PERFORM ON THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN LANSING FOR A SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION BACK HOME . " WE ENJOY THIS TYPE OF MUSIC , " HE SAID. " AS LONG AS IT'S FUN , WE'LL KEEP PLAYING IT."
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