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.

"Not Forgotten" Statue New to Museum

You are invited to see the new woodcarved statue "Not Forgotten" in our museum on loan from reknowned Bloomington Il artist Rick Harney. Rick is the sculptor of the bronze Abraham Lincoln statue on Pontiac's downtown Courthouse Square and also has done a seated Lincoln on the grounds of the McLean County Museum of History.

We have placed the "Not Forgotten" woodcarving in a prominent and logical position in our museum.

It is in the center of our main room, gazing at the stories, uniforms and medals of two soldiers of World War II from our area. 

DO YOU KNOW THAT...?

"Teaching World History in a Global Society"

In January, our museum participated in a conference entitled "Teaching World History in a Global Society" held at the McLean County Museum of History in Bloomington IL. It was attended by 120 Central Illinois history teachers.  War Museum members presented two sessions: Korea and Vietnam
(Jack Murphy and David Estes) and Desert Storm (Hugh Roop of the Pontiac police and Charlie Summers of the Illinois State University police). We thank the McLean County Museum for their invitation again this year.
 

HAPPY 110th BIRTHDAY TO OUR OLDEST WWI VETERAN

Today is the 110th birthday of America's last remaining World War I veteran, Mr. Frank W. Buckles. He still considers it his duty to represent his fellow soldiers from what was then called the Great War. He enlisted in the Army when he was 21 and drove ambulances in England and France and guarded German prisoners.  Mr. Buckles was a prisoner himself of the Japanese for three years during World War II in the Philippines. There are only two other remaining World War I vets in the world - both in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Buckles lives at Gap View Farm in Charles Town, West Virginia. When asked about the secret of his long life, he replied: "Hope...When you start to die, don't."

We send our best wishes and utmost respect today to our last remaining doughboy of World War I.
- The Veterans and Members of the Livingston County War Museum/Dal Estes Education Center
   in Pontiac Illinois.

Please view the short video below.

VOA Report on Frank Buckles: Last Surviving WWI Veteran