The town of Jim Thorpe will celebrate the life and legacy of its Native American namesake this weekend. The 19th annual Jim Thorpe Birthday Celebration will take place from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday.

Festivities will kick off with a Native American tribute featuring Don Wild Eagle at the Jim Thorpe Mausoleum at 10:30 Saturday.At 11 a.m., the Jim Thorpe High School Olympians cross country and track teams will carry a lighted torch from the mausoleum to Jim Thorpe Area High School stadium. After lighting the torch for the Carbon County Special Olympics track and field competition there, the runners will proceed through town to Josiah White Park at the train station, where they will light the Olympic torch.Upon arrival at the park at noon, special medals will be awarded to the cross country, track and cheerleading teams, as well as to their coaches. State Rep. Doyle Heffley will read a proclamation by the Pennsylvania House declaring Saturday "James Francis Thorpe Day" throughout the commonwealth.A large birthday cake will be presented, cut and available throughout the weekend.Special guests will include Thorpe's grandson John Thorpe and retired sports director Chuck Gentile and his wife, Wanda, from the United States Army War College in Carlisle.Throughout the weekend there will be free musical performances; Native American folklore, dancing and drumming; craft and food vendors and more.On Saturday, a diesel passenger train will depart White Haven at 10:30 a.m. and arrive in Jim Thorpe at noon. Proceeds from the train ride will benefit the White Haven Ambulance Association."I feel that it's so important to recognize the accomplishments of our namesake Jim Thorpe, the man," said Anne Marie Fitzpatrick, coordinator of the event. "We have taken great pride in honoring him with this event for the past 19 years.""It is a great pleasure to have a continuous opportunity to be able to tell people about our namesake, the greatest athlete of all time," added Ray Brader, co-event coordinator. "We hope that everyone who can will join us this weekend to participate in the awareness of his legacy."For more information about the Birthday Celebration, sponsored by Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency, contact Event Coordinators Brader and Fitzpatrick at Nature's Trail at 570-325-9281 or at

amnt1@ptd.net or visit

www.JimThorpe.org.For additional information about the White Haven to Jim Thorpe train excursion, call 570-443-9131, ext. 302.