|
|
 |
 |
| |
|
|
Return to News
The National D-Day Museum Has Reopened!
With cheers from an enthusiastic crowd and the “boom” of WWII artillery, the National D-Day Museum reopened to visitors on Saturday, December 3 after being closed for 93 days following Hurricane Katrina. The Museum has been designated by Congress as the country’s National World War II Museum and is the only national museum in the region.
Museum President and CEO Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller called the day a great occasion for the Museum and another important step toward the rebuilding of our city and the tourism industry. He affirmed that The National D-Day Museum will continue its planned expansion over the next several years. When completed, the Museum campus will occupy three full blocks in downtown’s Warehouse and Arts District.
Joining Dr. Mueller for the ribbon-cutting and welcoming remarks were Vice-Admiral Thad Allen, appointed by the President as Chief of the federal hurricane recovery effort in the Gulf South; David Voelker, Chairman of the Museum Board of Trustees; Major General David Mize [USMC,Ret.], Chairman of the Mayor’s Military Advisory Council; Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, Museum Trustee and City Councilmember; and Thomas Krentel, representing the The Gloria Shearin Smith and Ivy A. Smith, Jr. Charitable Trust which generously underwrote the day’s free admission and special activities. Bill Detweiler, former Museum Trustee and Past National Commander of the American Legion, served as Master of Ceremonies.
Archbishop Philip Hannan, a WWII veteran of the storied 82d Airborne Division, gave a stirring invocation and Tech Sgt. Kenneth Hollins of the Louisiana Air National Guard led the National Anthem before the crowds of visitors poured in beneath a Museum banner proclaiming “We Have Returned” with the classic WWII photograph of Gen. Douglas MacArthur striding through the surf.
Enthusiastic visitors toured the exhibition galleries and participated in the many special activities throughout the day. Children and parents enjoyed such hands-on projects as Morse Coding, building models of the famous Higgins Boat D-Day landing craft and poster-making. Adults and children alike posed in frames of famous WWII posters “Uncle Sam Wants You” and “We Can Do It!”
The Museum’s Director of Research Martin Morgan gave a fascinating briefing on Pearl Harbor, wearing an authentic period military uniform.
Michael G. Walling spoke about the Coast Guard’s critical role in the Battle of the Atlantic and autographed his book, Bloodstained Sea.
Veterans for the USS St. Louis, the WWII light cruiser that was at Pearl Harbor, presented a model of the ship and the flag from December 7, 1941 to the Museum.
A highlight of the afternoon was a concert by Rocky’s Hot Fox Trot Orchestra, playing the swinging sounds of the WWII era. Visitors cut a rug to such tunes as “It Don’t’ Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing,” “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree with Anyone Else But Me,” “the A-Train” and “Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy.”
With its reopening The National D-Day Museum begins
new days and hours for the months ahead:
Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10-6
Thursdays and Fridays noon – 8
Saturdays 10-6
Closed Sundays & Mondays
Thursdays and Fridays will have special programming for the evening hours, including History Happy Hours, music, films, informal lectures and more. .
Return to News
|
|
|
|
|
