Headliner of the Year: National Cold War Center honored by NEA Town Courier

The 2020 NEA Town Courier Headliner of the Year is the National Cold War Center, located at the former Eaker Air Force Base. The award is given each year in recognition of contributions toward positive headlines in the Blytheville/Buffalo Island area.

The National Cold War Center started as a vision several  years ago and  due to the hard work and dedication of board members and supporters the exhibit building, which is a part of the overall project, is now open for visitors. A ribboncutting was held in November on Veterans Day, and the museum is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Board chairperson Mary Gay Shipley and board treasurer Michael Jacques accepted the Headliner of the Year plaque on behalf of the center and other board members, including Barry Harrison, vice chair; Liz Smith, secretary; Billy Curl, Molly Jackson, Seth Holifield, Lisa John-Adams, Cybelle Jones, Jay Henderson and Dr. Anes Abraham.

A successful fundraising activity, a dinner, dance and auction with special guest P.Allen Smith, a noted author, television host, entrepreneur and conservationist, was held in November.  A fly-in was also held giving visitors the opportunity to see aircraft on display and visit the exhibition center.

Fundraisers will be held in the future and the board will continue to seek available grants to help with the large  project.

The former Air Base facility is now operated by the Blytheville/Gosnell Regional Airport Authority.

The overall investment in the Cold War Center project is projected to cost $20 million and feature a visitor center, the alert pad, BAFB exhibition building, flight-line, weapons storage area, flag plaza, memorials, and the tower. The BAFB exhibition building is made up of several rooms containing items from and videos of the former Air Base, going back to when it was an Army Airfield used in World War II to train pilots.

The Army Airfield later became Blytheville Air Force Base which was renamed Eaker Air Force Base. The base closed in 1992, leaving a void in the community. Thousands of men and women, along with their families, will remember being stationed at the Air Base.

The Cold War is an important part of history that should not be forgotten. The rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union lasted for decades and the Air Force Base in Blytheville played a major role in the Cold War as well as in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm.

The history of the Air Base will be preserved as a tribute to the men and women who once were part of the military serving at the Air Base. It will also be a memorial to those who did not return but gave their all for their country.

The BAFB exhibition building was once a bomb squadron headquarters. The 6,800 square-foot building has videos, photographs, memorabilia, and memorial tributes.

Jacques said they have a vision to get a B-52 and a KC-135 (the airborne gas station) for the Cold War Center. The Blytheville Air Force Base was home to B-52s for a long time.

New items for display in the exhibition building are being added daily. There will be models of all of the aircraft that were once housed at the Eaker Air Force Base on display. Shipley said they are expecting a report from the design team in January and a lot of behind the scenes work will be done.

“We want to get a Congressional bill vote, as well as a State vote, to be known as The National Cold War Center,” Shipley said. “It will give us the air of authenticity.”

Earlier this month, the National Cold War Center took a major step towards coming to fruition as Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas) introduced a bill that would designate the museum at Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville as the National Cold War Center.

“Eaker Air Force Base played a key role in the defense of our nation during the Cold War—we ought to preserve its legacy and encourage the continued education of future generations. Our bill will officially recognize the museum in Blytheville as the nation’s National Cold War Center, which will help preserve this important history and be a boon to local tourism,” said Cotton.

“The Blytheville Air Force Base exhibition is dedicated to sharing the stories and educating the public about the community’s role in our national security. I’m proud to honor the accomplishments of the men and women who served at Eaker Air Force Base by recognizing the museum as the National Cold War Center so we can pay tribute to their contributions to our defense,” Boozman said.

The board and the people who have worked on the project are committed.

“We (board members) are very pleased and grateful to have the local recognition,” Shipley said. “We want to say thank you to the NEA Town Courier for the award which we will hang in the exhibition building. I think it is important to be recognized by our local newspaper.”