Ft. Benning hosts Annual Tour of Homes this Sunday - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

Ft. Benning hosts Annual Tour of Homes this Sunday

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FORT BENNING, GA (WTVM) -

It's a history lesson and holiday display all in one.

The Annual Fort Benning Tour of Homes is this weekend and News Leader 9 got a sneak peak at one of the 20 homes on the tour.

Step inside this home and you're transported to a Christmas wonderland.

"I'm a thrift store, Goodwill girl and I like to use things that I can find outside so all the greenery, all the sticks, pine cones and all that have been collected from the golf course here at Fort Benning," said Jamie Willard.

Willard's husband is the commander of the 1-10 field artillery, and their home is one of 20 on this year's tour. Decked will all sorts of ornaments reflecting their style, her love for Christmas dates back decades when she started collecting pieces to display.

"Any hand-painted China you might see in the home was done by my grandmother who has since passed away," Willard said.

Now her home is filled with family mementos like stockings hanging over the fireplace or the many Christmas trees and Santas in almost every room.

So how long does it take to create this holiday masterpiece? Willard says the first layer starts at Thanksgiving.

"Well I'm going to make a Halloween Tree then I do a Thanksgiving tree with gold and green and then just keep piling it on till Christmas," Willard said.

The Fort Benning Annual Tour of Homes is this Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. It's open to the public and you must be at least 16 years old.

The tour starts at Riverside, the home of Fort Benning's commanding general.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at A Bit of Benning or the Main Post PX.

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