Historium needs World War I, II items for upcoming exhibit honoring veterans
Ozark County veterans of World Wars II and Ozark County families possessing family-related World War I and II memorabilia are asked to help the Ozark County Historium create its next exhibit, a military salute.
The event, to be held Oct. 24 through Nov. 11, will recognize Ozark County veterans of World Wars I and II while also honoring the more than 130 Missourians killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, including Ozark County soldier Matthew England, who was killed in Iraq on June 8.
"We're hoping World War I and II veterans and veterans' families will loan us their photos, discharge papers and other documents, souvenirs, medals, uniforms, letters home, equipment and any other objects of interest that are related to their own service, or a family member's service during these wars," said Historium president Janet Taber. "We will carefully log in each item, display it in our exhibit and then have it ready for pickup beginning Monday, Nov. 14."
Patriotic quilts are also needed for displaying on the walls of the Historium during the veterans event.
In order to have the exhibit ready to go by Oct. 24, items are needed immediately, said Historium board member Susan Ault, who's helping organize the event. "We're asking folks to please contact us right away, or bring your items to the Historium so we can start planning the displays," she said.
The Historium, located on the west side of the Gainesville square, is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 679-2400 during business hours. Or contact Janet at 417-265-3372, janettaber@gmail.com or Susan at 417-679-4253, papajohn@ozbb.net.
The Historium also is asking residents to contribute to the $1,000 cost of bringing in a special Missouri traveling exhibit, Remembering Our Fallen, which features individual panels honoring the more than 130 Missourians who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2011.
The Historium needs about $400 more to reach its goal of funding the exhibit's appearance in Gainesville. Gifts are tax deductible. Make checks payable to the Ozark County Historium and leave at the Historium during business hours or mail to P.O. Box 4, Gainesville, MO 65655.
Remembering Our Fallen will be displayed in the Historium from Oct. 31 through Nov. 7. An opening ceremony is being planned, and more details will be shared in upcoming issues of the Ozark County Times.
Remembering Our Fallen was introduced in July in the rotunda of the Missouri Capitol building, and most recently was featured in the Kansas City Star while being displayed in that area.
The Historium's event also will include a second special Missouri traveling exhibit, the Missouri Survivors Quilt, to be displayed Nov. 7-11. The 10' x 20' quilt was the first annual project hosted by Survivor Outreach Services at Fort Leonard Wood and was designed to memorialize fallen service members from Missouri and bears names of selected Army, Navy, Marine Corp, active duty, retired, National Guard and reserve members from World War II to the Ft. Hood shooting in 2009.
It is hand pieced from fabric donated by volunteers and fallen service members' families.
Some of the 72 blocks are sewn with fabrics that belonged to a fallen service member, said Jodeen L. Carmack, Survivor Outreach Services support coordinator at Fort Wood, including "corduroy from a pair of pants, or fabric from a sports banner or the material from the duffel bag the service member took to basic training from home."
Other blocks are personalized with photos or drawings.
"There are many tears forever soaked into the fabric of these blocks from the families and the volunteers who worked on this quilt. . . . It is a testament to the love of families and the support of communities and strangers," she said.
The Historium hopes to host salutes to veterans of other wars in upcoming exhibits.
<p>For its upcoming exhibit Oct. 24-Nov. 11 saluting Ozark County
veterans of World Wars I and II, the Ozark county Historium needs
photos and other memorabilia from World Wars I and II, like this
WWI photo of Ozark County native Troy Hunt, second from left, with
his friends at Camp Lee, Va.</p>
