Mark Weedon of Oceano never served in the nation's armed forces, but he has great respect for those who have, and an affinity for collecting military memorabilia.

Those interests will come to the forefront Sunday when he and the Oceano Depot Association combine efforts for a Veterans Day celebration.

“A lot of people aren't vividly aware of the history of our country,” said Weedon, a professional restorer of antiques and the son of Doug and Margaret Weedon. “The young men were in terrible jeopardy when they went out there, just like our young people today who are serving in Iraq.”

The historic depot at 1650 Front St. near Fourth Street in Oceano will open at 10 a.m. Sunday with a ceremony by the Central Coast Honor Guard beginning at 11 a.m.

The ceremony is free and open to the public and will be followed by a $7-per-plate, tri-tip barbecue that will benefit the Depot Association.

“This event honors all our servicemen past, present and future,” said Linda Austin, president of the Oceano Depot Association. “The reason we have the way of life we do in this country is because of them, and we appreciate their sacrifices and want to let them know.”

The depot was built in 1904 after a fire destroyed the original Southern Pacific Depot. The structure passed into private hands after passenger, mail and, finally, freight service stopped in 1973.

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By 1980, it was slated for demolition, but local residents, led by Harold Guiton, Mary Lundahl and George Allen, established the association specifically to restore and preserve the structure and operate the facility.

The depot has been moved 400 yards from its original site and now houses historical artifacts. Collections include items from Oceano School, railroad tools, Dunite art and artifacts, photos and maps, among others.

There is also a “war room” commemorating all Oceano residents who served in World War I, World War II and the Korean War.

The collection will expand for the weekend to incorporate Weedon's own memorabilia, which includes complete B-17 and ambulance crews in the form of mannequins. Each mannequin dons the attire of his post.

“I was a collector for many years and had a massive collection at one time,” Weedon said. “I decided it would be better to have something people could relate to and enjoy, so I came up with this idea of making an exhibit of airmen.”

The flight crew of 10 will be displayed inside with a B-17 triblade Hamilton standard propeller.

“It's one thing to look at a plane on a runway, but to actually see the men who flew with it is quite an experience,” Weedon said.

The effort has expanded to include a ground crew, and there's no end in sight for Weedon's collection. The three-mannequin ambulance crew also will be displayed Sunday with Weedon's own 1941 Dodge WC9 half-ton ambulance.

Weedon bought the ambulance near Yosemite and restored it. He is also restoring a weapons carrier from the same era and plans to add it to his traveling exhibit.

“There are all sorts of people attracted to all kinds of different things,” Weedon said. “This is something that, once I got started, I couldn't stop. I love the history of it, the high adventure, the lore, so I'm just all full of baloney at this point.”

Weedon hopes to continue expanding his collection to portray different aspects of World War II. He's interested in adding more mannequins and incorporating Army and Marine Corps posts.

“Oceano, being a small community, has always been supportive of our servicemen, but Mark's really been the one who's driven this event,” Austin said.

Jennifer Best, an Orcutt-based freelance journalist, can be reached at JBest@BestFamilyAdventures.com.

November 10, 2007