For several years I have been reading posts on this form without registering, but this discussion has gotten me off my butt as I decided I wanted to login on it. For those that have an interest in WWII history, I encourage you to make a visit to the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans. Among many other things, there are a number of first person recordings of war time experiences. It seems like the building of the museum made a number of veterans realize that it was now or never to record their memories of the war. They are very interesting, ranging from the humorous to the tragic.
The museum was initially conceived to honor the events of June 1943 and the New Orleans designed and built landing craft that made the invasion practical. With the museum?s success it was decided to recognize all of the D-Days of the war, the Pacific islands, Italy etc. So the museum was expanded.
The expanded museum was opened on December 7, 2001. I had the great honor to be able to drive a pre-war vehicle (?37 Ford pickup) in the opening day celebration parade. There were about 25 of us from various local car clubs involved. There were 15 or 20 WWII Medal of Honor winners present. I got to shake many of their hands, including Tibbets. There were truckloads of WII veterans in the parade. We heard many first person accounts in our visits. Never have I seen such an outpouring of patriotism. Remember this was two months after the tragedy of 9-11. The people on the parade route were fantastic in their support of the veterans.
At any rate, visit the museum when you can. Everyone that I have ever taken or sent there has commented it was worthwhile. My 40 year old daughter did not want to go, but went because her military minded 16 year old stepson was interested. Four hours later they kicked us out at closing time and she wasn?t ready to leave.
If you can?t visit New Orleans now, make it a side trip when the LA Region hosts the 2005 Central Division Tour in South Louisiana.
December 7, 1941
in General Discussion
Posted
For several years I have been reading posts on this form without registering, but this discussion has gotten me off my butt as I decided I wanted to login on it. For those that have an interest in WWII history, I encourage you to make a visit to the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans. Among many other things, there are a number of first person recordings of war time experiences. It seems like the building of the museum made a number of veterans realize that it was now or never to record their memories of the war. They are very interesting, ranging from the humorous to the tragic.
The museum was initially conceived to honor the events of June 1943 and the New Orleans designed and built landing craft that made the invasion practical. With the museum?s success it was decided to recognize all of the D-Days of the war, the Pacific islands, Italy etc. So the museum was expanded.
The expanded museum was opened on December 7, 2001. I had the great honor to be able to drive a pre-war vehicle (?37 Ford pickup) in the opening day celebration parade. There were about 25 of us from various local car clubs involved. There were 15 or 20 WWII Medal of Honor winners present. I got to shake many of their hands, including Tibbets. There were truckloads of WII veterans in the parade. We heard many first person accounts in our visits. Never have I seen such an outpouring of patriotism. Remember this was two months after the tragedy of 9-11. The people on the parade route were fantastic in their support of the veterans.
At any rate, visit the museum when you can. Everyone that I have ever taken or sent there has commented it was worthwhile. My 40 year old daughter did not want to go, but went because her military minded 16 year old stepson was interested. Four hours later they kicked us out at closing time and she wasn?t ready to leave.
If you can?t visit New Orleans now, make it a side trip when the LA Region hosts the 2005 Central Division Tour in South Louisiana.