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Saturday, December 29, 2007
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008
From the Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan -
"Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, idealogies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every 'superstar', every 'supreme leader'. every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there - on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam."
With our Best Wishes for a Peaceful and Happy New Year
The Museum Staff
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
MUSEUM IN THE NEWS Click to Enlarge
Thanks from the President
Saturday, October 27, 2007
War Museum Joins Pontiac Chamber of Commerce
Our museum is now a proud new member of the Pontiac Area Chamber of Commerce.
Korean War Conference - November 17
We are proud to announce the second in a series of four free Conferences sponsored by the Livingston County War Museum. Two panels of local Korean War veterans will speak and answer questions on Saturday, November 17 from 9 am - 12 noon. Thanks to the generosity of our next-door neighbors, the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum, the Conference will be held in their meeting room. This will enable the War Museum to remain open to the public.
We encourage families and school age children to attend and meet these honored veterans of the Korean War. Just contact us at our email: dal@ warmuseum.us, call us at 815-842-0301, or send us the attached form. See you at the Korean War Conference - Living History!
We encourage families and school age children to attend and meet these honored veterans of the Korean War. Just contact us at our email: dal@ warmuseum.us, call us at 815-842-0301, or send us the attached form. See you at the Korean War Conference - Living History!
Seneca Junior High Visits Museum
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Recent Comments from our Guests
" Such an inpactful place. It is important that the stories and memories are preserved for future generations."
"This place is awesome!"
"Brings tears to my heart."
"Thank you for bringing this to the area."
"Very nice displays. Very informative."
"I loved how much history was in here."
"Beautiful job. Much more than I expected. You make me proud to be a teacher and proud to be an American."
"Very impressive and intimate selection of memorabilia."
"Thank you for the reminder that 'freedom is not free' "
"The personal stories and pictures are so helpful in understanding. Thanks to all who shared their experiences."
"This place is awesome!"
"Brings tears to my heart."
"Thank you for bringing this to the area."
"Very nice displays. Very informative."
"I loved how much history was in here."
"Beautiful job. Much more than I expected. You make me proud to be a teacher and proud to be an American."
"Very impressive and intimate selection of memorabilia."
"Thank you for the reminder that 'freedom is not free' "
"The personal stories and pictures are so helpful in understanding. Thanks to all who shared their experiences."
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Our Honored Hero: S/Sgt. Lee Nelson Dwight IL
S/Sgt. Lee Nelson, 3rd Infantry Division, Dwight IL, US Army World War II. He was the most decorated World War II veteran from Dwight IL in World War II according to veterans from Dwight. Sgt. Nelson participated in the Anzio invasion and the war in Europe through Italy and Southern France. He earned the following decorations: Combat Infantry Badge, two Silver Star medals, Bronze Star medal with "V" for Valor in Combat, Purple Heart, Good Conduct medal, American Campaign medal, European Campaign medal with three battle stars and spearhead for the Anzio invasion, World War II Victory medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation. His uniform, loaned by the Dwight VFW Post 2608, is on display in our museum.
Friday, September 28, 2007
WELCOME HOME!
WELCOME HOME from Iraq to the 70 soldiers of the 33rd Military Police Battalion of Bloomington. The soldiers were responsible for security at Camp Bucca, an insurgent camp 300 miles southeast of Baghdad. It would be our honor to meet you and your families at our museum.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
WELCOME HOME!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Newsletter for September - Click to enlarge
Our redesigned double issue newsletter will be sent to museum Members in September. We'll have information about many exciting developments in our museum including this blog, our new museum theater, the Korean War Conference in November and much more! Only museum Members receive this excellent publication. JOIN TODAY!
Membership Form -Double click
Join the over 200 members of the Livingston County War Museum as we continue to develop the museum.
You will receive our newsletters and invitations to special events held at the museum throughout the year.
Annual membership is only $20 per year (September - September) and Life membership is only $100.
Your donations are also appreciated enabling us to develop exhibits, offer Conferences at no charge, and to bring student groups to the museum.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Meet John Hamilton
Colonel John Hamilton, Pontiac IL, served as a lieutenant with the 15th Infantry, Third Infantry Division in the Korean War. John remained in the Army and the National Guard and attained the rank of Colonel before his retirement. His decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, two Bronze Star medals with "V" for valor, Army Commendation medal, National Defense medal, Korean Campaign medal with 3 Bronze battle stars, Army Reserve medal, National Guard Achievement medal, United Nations medal, Korean Service medal, Republic of Korea Service medal and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. John is an active board member of the Livingston County War Museum.
Great addition to our Air Force collection
Girl Scouts visit
War Museum in the News (Double-click to enlarge)
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Meet John Amm
John Amm, from Pontiac IL, served with the U.S. Army Infantry, 65th Division in France, Germany and Austria during World War II as a Tech Sergeant. His unit made contact with the Russian Army in Austria and liberated the Nazi prison camp at Ohrdruf, Germany. According to John "our 65th Division liberated Nazi concentration camps as we fought our way across Europe. The conditions that we found were impossible to imagine."
His decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star medal with "V" for Valor, the American Campaign medal, the European-African-Middle East medal with three battle stars, the Army Good Conduct medal, the World War II Victory medal and the Occupation medal along with a Meritorious Unit Citation.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Meet Neil Bach
Sgt. Neil Bach, U.S. Army Air Corps, World War II. Neil particpated in the China-Burma-India campaign. He flew 112 missions (752 hours) of all types in C-46's (large cargo planes) to support American and Chinese troops fighting the Japanese. These air routes took them directly over the highest and most dangerous mountain range in the world - the Himalaya Mountains. This became known as "The Hump". Between 1944 and 1945, 81% of all supplies came into China via these air crews. His medals include: The Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with cluster, 3 Bronze battle stars and the Good Conduct medal. Neil is from Pontiac and is a member of the Museum Board.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Meet John Rodino
John Rodino, T-4, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, World War II. John was in the Anzio invasion and served as a radioman for Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in U.S. military history. John was an Infantry soldier for 27 months and was with Murphy when he earned the Medal of Honor. John's unit landed in Southern France and the campaign took him across Northern Africa, Sicily, Mt. Cassino, Rome, Germany and Austria. John says "They gave me all the medals except the Congressional Medal of Honor, including the French Croix de Guerre and the Presidential Unit Citation with Palm." John Rodino is a life board member of the War Museum and lives in Pontiac.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Meet Willis Harms
Willis Harms, T-4, United States Army, World War II. Willis is a Life Member of the museum board. He served as an Infantryman, then a replacement medic when so many medics were being killed with the 36th Infantry Division in Europe. The Lone Star Division was in 400 days of combat and was one of the most feared divisions according to captured Nazi officders. Willis and his brother John were both wounded in combat in the Battle for Monte Casino Italy. Willis now lives in Pontiac but grew up in the Saunemin IL area. His medals include: Medical Combat Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star with "V" for Valor, Good Conduct medal, American Theater medal, Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater medal with four battle stars, World War II Victory medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and Meritorious Unit Citation medal.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
President's Message
The Livingston County War Museum continues to thrive and grow as word spreads about it. The Route 66 Museum and the War Museum provide great attractions to visitors of our city and county.
We have a lot of new items, new signs at the doors and hopefully soon an elevator for those who find the stairs too difficult. The City of Pontiac has been very helpful in making the two museums an attraction.
Our sole purpose is to honor and remember those who gave so much for our country and to honor those who serve today. God Bless America.
Jack Murphy
President
Livingston County War Museum
Dal Estes Education Center
Pontiac IL
Bill Voorheis - Veteran of Tarawa
Bill Voorheis, Life Member, pictured recently on a visit to the War Museum from his home in Kentucky. Corporal Voorheis, formerly of Cornell IL, was severely wounded at Tarawa, a major battle in the Pacific during World War II.Voorheis was shot seven times on the beach and spent two years recovering from his wounds. In spite of all of this, he considers himself one of the lucky ones because he made it home.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Pontiac Junior High Tours Museum
Cornell Grade School visit
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Museum President Named Citizen of Year (double click)
World War II Conference a Great Success!
Thank you to the City of Pontiac, Pontiac Tourism, and the many friends of the Museum who helped us put on a great World War II conference. Special thanks to our 12 honored speakers representing the Army, Navy, Air Corps, Marines and civilian life as well as over 100 guests. In the photo are (left to right) Jim Dawson-US Marines, Peg Spalding-US Naval Intelligence, Gladys Barnes-engine repair, and John Rodino-US Army. Other participants include: Wib Henkel - US Army, John Amm - US Army, Neil Bach - US Army Air Corps, Eric Merry - RAF door gunner, Willis Harms - US Army, Bill Diaz - US Army and David Siebert - son of a German prisoner of war. Following the Conference, everyone had fun travelling on Pontiac's Jolly Trolley to a local restaurant for even more stories!
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
That Day the tide brought in Freedom
Remember Their Sacrifice
Two Heroes of D-Day: Dal Estes and Orval Monson
In the early morning of June 6, 1944 Dal Estes, Orval Monson and members of the 467th AAA Automatic Weapons Squad helped take out this German bunker, WN65, guarding a key exit off of Omaha Beach. They returned 50 years later to return the Nazi flag taken from inside the bunker to the people of France. It is now in the Musee Omaha 6 Juin in St. Laurent sur Mer, France. A plaque now commemorates their unit"s heroic actions on D-Day.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Comments from our Guest Book
- "My husband and I felt in awe as we stood in the midst of memorabilia. I could almost feel the not forgotten heroes and their "ghosts".
- "Fantastic for education. Pontiac shows it has respect and pride for those who gave for our security."
-"This is the best "war museum" I've visited and I've been to several in our country".
- "Awesome museum. I could spend hours in here."
-"Extremely well done. One could spend a whole day in here!"
- "It was nice to see the items kept so well."
- "Very emotional, moving!"
- "Impressive display, very welcoming and educational."
- Thank you. This place reminds me of what my Grandpa used to talk about when he was in the Korean War. He told me lots of stories."
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- "Fantastic for education. Pontiac shows it has respect and pride for those who gave for our security."
-"This is the best "war museum" I've visited and I've been to several in our country".
- "Awesome museum. I could spend hours in here."
-"Extremely well done. One could spend a whole day in here!"
- "It was nice to see the items kept so well."
- "Very emotional, moving!"
- "Impressive display, very welcoming and educational."
- Thank you. This place reminds me of what my Grandpa used to talk about when he was in the Korean War. He told me lots of stories."
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Wednesday, May 23, 2007
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