|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Return to News
Congress
Approves National Designation for The National D-Day
Museum
as
"America’s National World War II Museum"
September 25, 2003
Congress declared The National D-Day Museum in New Orleans
today as “America’s National World War II Museum” and
awarded $3.5 million toward its further expansion.
The resolution expressed the United States Government’s
support for the New Orleans Museum in continuing preservation
and interpretation of artifacts, documents and history
as well as the education of American people about experience
in combat and on the home front during the World War II
years.
The Museum’s National Board of Trustees Chairman Donald
T. “Boysie” Bollinger said the Congressional designation
recognizes the importance of the Museum’s mission and
status as the premier facility in the nation for the documentation
of the actual experience of Americans in World War II.
“This designation ensures the understanding of all future
generations of the magnitude of the American contribution
to the Allied victory in World War II, and the sacrifices
made to preserve freedom and democracy,” he said.
Dr. Gordon H. Mueller, president and chief executive officer
of the Museum, said that the designation was a tribute
to its founder, Dr. Stephen E. Ambrose, who died last
October. “This was Steve’s dream, and we are grateful
to the entire Congress and for the leadership of Senators
Ted Stevens of Alaska and Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, who
shepherded this resolution in a bi-partisan way,” said
Mueller.
In addition to Stevens and Inouye, Mueller cited the cooperation
of the entire Louisiana Congressional delegation especially
Senator John Breaux, Senator Mary Landrieu, Congressman
W.J. “Billy” Tauzin, Congressman William Jefferson and
Congressman David Vitter. Additional key players were
Senator John Warner of Virginia and Senator Carl Levin
of Michigan, chairman and ranking member of the Senate
Armed Services Committee; as well as Congressman Duncan
Hunter of California and Congressman Ike Skelton of Missouri,
chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services
Committee.
The National D-Day Museum is the only museum in the United
States that exists for the exclusive purpose of interpreting
the American experience during the World War II years
(1939-1945) on both the battlefront and the home front
and, in doing so, covers all of the branches of the Armed
Forces and the Merchant Marines.
It is devoted to the combat experience of United States
citizen soldiers in all of the theatres of World War II
and to the heroic efforts of the men and women on the
home front who worked tirelessly to support the troops
and the war effort. The Museum continues to add to and
maintain one of the largest personal history collections
in the United States of the men and women who fought in
World War II and who served on the home front.
Since its grand opening on June 6, 2000, the 56th anniversary
of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the Museum has attracted
more than 1,000,000 visitors from around the world, 85
percent of whom have been Americans from across the country.
American World War II veterans, called the “greatest generation”
of the Nation, are dying at the rapid rate of more than
1,500 veterans each day, creating an urgent need to preserve
the stories, artifacts and heroic achievements of that
generation.
In its next development phase, the Museum will expand
the interpretive exhibits, include a big-screen movie
theater, and feature exhibits from the China-Burma-India
Theater and the Africa and Italy Campaigns. The Museum
has already purchased the buildings and open land directly
across the entrance of the Museum on Andrew Higgins Dr.,
which include two blocks for the site of the new expansion.
The National D-Day Museum is a museum of the World War
II years celebrating the American spirit, the teamwork,
optimism, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who
won World War II and promotes the exploration and expression
of these values by future generations. For more information
about The National D-Day Museum, call 527-6012 or visit
the web site at www.ddaymuseum.org.
Return to News
|
|
|
|
|
