The John Wade Keyes Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution has recognized Wendell Powers with its Community Service Award for his work in helping establish the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives seven years ago.

DAR officers presented the award to Powers May 10 at the First Presbyterian Church Rodgers Center.

“It’s hard for me to express how much this award means to me,” said Powers, a retired Limestone County District 5 commissioner. “This project has been near and dear to my heart for a decade and I accept it on behalf of all the many, many volunteers who have had a hand in making this museum what it is today.”

Under Powers’ leadership, the museum board carried on the dream of late Veterans Service Officer Ken David to establish a museum to preserve the memories and achievements of the county’s veterans, to provide a place that schools could use to teach history, and to provide archives, records, reference materials and a military history library to serious researchers.

Organizers wanted the museum to become a focal point for veterans’ events, ceremonies and meetings as well as a significant addition to the cultural and historical life of the community.

Powers, a Korean War veteran, served as board president for eight years, during which time he led volunteers in promoting the museum, securing funding and renovating and furnishing the old L&N Freight Depot on Pryor Street as a military museum.

The board began meeting in the museum in 2001 and formally dedicated the facility on Veterans Day 2002. The museum now houses a gift shop and hosts meetings of several community groups as well as frequent tours by school children.

While Powers stepped down as president in 2007, he remains on the board of directors and one of the guiding forces in the perpetuation of the museum.