Teacher Workshop - June 20

The Livingston County War Museum is proud to announce that it will host a Teacher Workshop entitled "In Our Own Backyard: Community Resources That Work" on Monday, June 20 from 8:15 - 9:445 am.

Sponsored by Regional Office of Education #17 in Bloomington-Normal IL, 30 teachers from McLean and Livingston County will travel by bus to learn about museum resources available for their classrooms in the fall. All of our veterans, from World War II to the present, will be on hand to help explain how students benefit when they interact with them on fieldtrips surrounded by hands-on exhibits of America at war. We extend a special welcome to all workshop teachers and look forward to collaborations with their schools. For further information, phone us at (815) 842-0301 or email us at lcwarmuseum@yahoo.com

Memorial Day 2011 - From Our Veterans

We are now a Blue Star Museum

Our museum has joined 49 other museums in Illinois and over 1000 nationally to become a "Blue Star Museum". This program, sponsored by the National Endowment for The Humanities, promotes free visits to museums to our active duty military personnel and their families. Although we do not charge admission to the public (but like donations!), this partnership allows us more contact and publicity with our military families. We are here to honor them and all veterans everyday!

Related articles

• 1,300 Museums Offer Military Families Free Tickets (abcnews.go.com)

Flanagan-Cornell High School Fieldtrip

Greeting by Museum President, Jack Murphy

Bev Hart, Social Studies teacher, looks over museum with Roger Kutzner.

Students enjoy learning history at our museum.

Jack Murphy, Museum President, talking about history of museum.

This student took several minutes to read a fascinating, historic letter describing the brave death during World War II
of an Australian soldier, Alex Bell. It was written by a friend in a Japanese prisoner of war camp to Mrs. Bell describing her son's bravery in the face of starvation and death. Mystery: We received this letter without any documentation of its origin or donor. 

Jack Murphy describes bravery of local soldiers. 

Thanks to Bev Hart,  Social Studies teacher, Flanagan-Cornell HS students returned for their annual fieldtrip to encounter history at our museum. Our veterans enjoyed meeting them and sharing their experiences!

Pontiac High School history classes visit

Willis Harms talks about his Army experiences in World War II.

Bill Hall recounts his Marine days in the Pacific in World War II. 

Pontiac Township High School history class

Eric Sweetwood, PTHS Social Studies chair,  presents "Blue Beetle" comic to Jack Murphy (Museum President). Megan Bozarth (Teacher) presented a check for Museum Life Membership to David Estes (Education Director).

Gerry Bull answers questions about his service as a Marine in Vietnam.

Jack Murphy, Museum President, helps put a parachute on PTHS student.

Rollie Gagnon, Navy veteran,  in animated conversation with PTHS students.

Gerry Bull points out various weapons. 

Eight Pontiac High School history classes, led by teachers Eric Sweetwood, Megan Bozarth, and Stephen Kraft visited our museum again this year. Great interaction and learning between these enthusiastic students of history and our military veterans!

Vets Seminar (VIBES) At City Hall

The first Pontiac VIBES Seminar will be held Friday, March 11 from 2 - 4 pm at the Pontiac City Hall across from the War Museum. VIBES stands for Veterans Information Benefits and Employment Seminar. This is a free opportunity for all veterans, family members or vet employers to receive information concerning any and all benefits or employer responsibilities. This seminar will be held on the second Friday of every month. There is no cost or reservation needed to attend. For more information contact Mick Mills,Veterans Rep, at 309-827-6237 extension 361.

Museum Vets Win 2011 Pontiac Volunteer Award

20 volunteers from our museum were named 2011 Volunteers of the Year by the Pontiac Area Chamber of Commerce.  "This group of volunteers has done so much toward preserving our history, sharing with others and educating. They are what makes Pontiac work," said Cheri Lambert, executive director of the Chamber. Our volunteers will be honored at the Chamber of Commerce 94th Annual Banquet at the Pontiac Elks Lodge on Thursday evening, March 10. In the photo, Cheri Lambert discusses the award with George Pouliot, museum treasurer, and Jack Murphy, museum president.