Published: March 18, 2008 06:17 pm      

Mjaatveit named Mrs. Welcome Home for Vietnam veterans

The Cumberland County Vietnam Veterans are planning a big "Welcome Home" celebration in Crossville March 29 and 30 and are pleased to announce that Keeli Kimbro Mjaatveit has been chosen as Mrs. Welcome Home for 2008.

Keeli and Grant Mjaatveit call Crossville home and are the proud parents of three beautiful daughters, Brooklyn Kimbro, 11, and eight-year-old identical twins Keela and Kaali Kimbro. Keeli cherishes her close relationship with her parents, Bud and Sylvia Hale of Crossville, and sisters Diahn Suydam of Crossville and Haley Wolf of Nashville.

Grant Mjaatveit, a native Canadian, has a successful career in the medical profession. Grant has adjusted well to life here, despite the lack of his favorite sport, ice hockey, which is of course very big back home.

Keeli has been an international model for 17 years, with extensive travel abroad. Her career began when she was entered in the international Clairol competition and won the "Face of the '90s" contest. This catapulted her into the modeling world of New York City and Europe as a young teenager, as she worked with numerous designers, including Versace, Calvin Klein, Hanes Her Way, plus exposure in many top magazines, billboards and commercials. She has been under contract as a spokesmodel for Infiniti automobiles, The Cable Channel, Speedvision for NASCAR, Home Shopping Network and USA Network. She also had a principal role in the movie "October Sky," which co-starred Jake Gyllenhaal and Laura Dern.

To accommodate her intense modeling schedule Keeli completed her education through an international home correspondence academy. She believes the pursuit of a good education is a critical step for anyone who wants to meet life's goals. She also believes that her love of God and the support from her family and friends are the reasons her life has been so successful and rewarding.

Keeli chose to retire at an early age to become a full-time wife and mother, and has no regrets, as she is busier and happier now than when she pursued both a career and family life. She maintains a busy schedule which includes fundraising and working with cheerleaders at Brown Elementary School and is director of "Praiz Kidz" at Tansi Community Church. She will be the spokesmodel for the new show "The Big South Fork Opry," opening at the Palace Theatre Saturday, April 12. She is also excited that Gigi's Boutique will sponsor her beautiful wardrobe for these shows and other appearances. She enjoys "giving back" to her community and encourages everyone to do the same.

Keeli feels honored and privileged to be recognized as Mrs. Welcome Home and looks forward to the opportunity to recognize all our Vietnam veterans with a welcome home celebration they so richly deserve. Along with Miss Welcome Home, Casey Scarlett, Keeli will officially greet the many veterans, families and friends attending the March 29 and 30 events. The festivities begin with ceremonies at 8 a.m. Saturday followed by a parade in downtown Crossville at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited to the celebration, which includes speakers and entertainers Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday at the Cumberland County Community Complex. Admission is free to all events.