NOTE: Please allow time for the music to download. Once completed, minimize your audio player window. If an extra completely blank page appears once your music has started, exit this page so that you will be able to view the original page while listening to the music. The song, "Unity" by Paul Spaeth.
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| The National World War II Museum, formerly known as The National D-Day Museum |
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| MUSEUM PAVILLION AT NIGHT |
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We in Louisiana are very proud and fortunate to have The National World War II Museum located here in our great state. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as the country's official World War II Museum, this remarkable attraction illuminates the American experience during the WWII era with moving personal stories, historic artifacts, and powerful interactive displays. From the Normandy invasion to the sands of Pacific Islands and the Home Front, the Museum brings to life the teamwork, optimism, courage, and sacrifice of the men and women who won the war and changed the world.
The Museum is an incomparable experience for generations and not to be missed on any visit to New Orleans. Come learn with your mind and your heart that freedom isn't free.
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| FRONT OF MUSEUM |
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Dr. Stephen Ambrose, University of New Orleans Boyd Professor History, founded The National World War II Museum Foundation in New Orleans in 1991. The Museum, which opened on June 6, 2000, is the only museum in the United States that addresses all of the amphibious invasions or "D-days" of World War II, paying tribute to more than one million Americans who took part.
The National World War II Museum opened its doors on the 56th anniversary of the Normandy invasion that liberated Europe.
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| HIGGINS BOAT ON DISPLAY |
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It is located in New Orleans, Louisiana because it was here that Andrew Higgins built the landing craft used in the amphibious invasions; the landing craft which President Eisenhower believed won the war for the Allies. The Museum stands as our country's tribute to the men and women who made the invasions in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific theaters successful. It presents their stories to an international audience, preserves material for research and scholarship, and inspires future generations to apply the lessons learned from the most complex military operation ever staged.
A reproduction LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) or Higgins Boat built from original World War II plans by former Higgins employees is displayed at the Museum.
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| EXPANSION AT NIGHT |
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The National World War II Museum unveiled its $300 million expansion and Capital Campaign plan that will quadruple the size of the existing facility over the next five years. The expanded Museum will cover all of the theaters and services that played a role in World War II and create a national center for research on the war.
After Hurricane Katrina, many people expected the National World War II Museum to abandon its ambitious expansion program; however, the Museum's Board of Trustees felt differently. The Museum is ready to begin demolishing buildings in the 1000 block of Magazine Street and constructing the first phase of the expansion that when finished will help attract as many as 750,000 to 1 million visitors a year, three to four times more than it was drawing before Katrina.
The targeted deadline, originally set for 2011, was pushed back to 2014 after Katrina.
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| EXHIBIT WALL IN MUSEUM |
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| National Museum of the Pacific War, Home of the Admiral Nimitz Museum |
In the heart of the Texas Hill Country in historic Fredericksburg, Texas, just 70 miles from San Antonio and 75 miles from Austin, is located The National Museum of the Pacific War, the only institution in the continental United States dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific Theater battles of World War II. Situated on a six-acre site, the Center is also the home of the Admiral Nimitz Museum in what was the old Nimitz Hotel among its many attractions.
After a three year $2.2 million renovation, the Admiral Nimitz Museum reopens on the occasion of Fleet Admiral Nimitz's 122 birthday on February 24, 2007.
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| Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Photo: US Navy |
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Born on February 24, 1885 in the Texas Hill Country town of Fredericksburg, Chester W. Nimitz went on to become one of the greatest Naval Strategists of the century. Admiral Nimitz served as Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet from December 17, 1941 until the end of the war.
When Admiral Nimitz was named Commander of the Pacific Fleet, much of the Fleet lay on the bottom of the sea after Pearl Harbor. During his time, he commanded millions of men and women and thousands of ships and aircraft, amounting to more military power than had ever been wielded in previous wars. On September 2, 1945, Nimitz was a signer for the U.S. at the surrender ceremonies on board his flagship, the USS Missouri, in Tokyo Bay and the rest, as they say, is history.
Fleet Admiral Nimitz died at his home on Yerba Buena Island in San Francisco Bay on February 20, 1966 a few days short of his 81st birthday and was buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery at San Bruno. He was the last of the five star admirals.
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| Photo: Courtesy of Emily White, Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post |
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Recently, a representative of our Louisiana American Legion 5th District, Roger Beall, had the occasion to visit the Museum at the time a photo session was being held to unveil plans of a multi-million dollar promotion of the facility and Fleet Admiral Nimitz. Roger Beall also had the great opportunity to meet and talk with Rear Admiral Chuck Grojean, Executive Director of the Nimitz Project.
Pictured in the photo at left are, from left to right: Ron McCready, Inn on Barons Creek; Rear Admiral C.D. "Chuck" Grojean, Executive Director of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation; Sandi White, Inn on Barons Creek; Tom Roarick, Broadway Bank; and Gary McCready, Inn on Barons Creek.
For more information on The National Museum of the Pacific War, visit their website at
http://www.nimitz-museum.org
The National Museum of the Pacific War, 340 East Main Street, Fredericksburg, Texas 78624.
Other contact information:
Helen B. McDonald, Director of Programs, mcdonald@nimitz-museum.org , 830-992-2765.
Emily White, Reporter/Photographer, Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, emily@fredericksburgstandard.com , 830-997-2155
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