The Congressional Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust (CBCVB), an advisory group to members of Congress on issues related to African Americans and veterans affairs, has awarded its 2015 Veterans Braintrust Award to The National WWII Museum in recognition of work on behalf of African American veterans in World War II. Award selection is based on the support of the president and first lady and stems from the Museum’s development of a special exhibit, <em>Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in World War II</em>.

On September 2, 1945, Japan signed the documents that ended World War II. That October, the World Series was enjoyed by a nation at peace for the first time since December 7, 1941. While most star players were still overseas and some wartime rules remained in effect, the game marked a much-needed return to normalcy for Americans. The Detroit Tigers ultimately triumphed over the Chicago Cubs four games to three—in large part due to the play of honorably discharged slugger Hank Greenberg.

Actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, along with his Gary Sinise Foundation, and The National WWII Museum are partnering to give a group of 55 Southern California veterans the opportunity to visit the Museum that honors their service. The veterans will arrive in New Orleans on June 24 to kick-off two days of exploring the Museum alongside Sinise.

On June 6, 2015, The National WWII Museum will simultaneously commemorate the 71st anniversary of the D-Day invasion at Normandy and the 15th anniversary of its opening as The National D-Day Museum in 2000. After receiving Congressional designation to become America’s WWII Museum in 2004, the institution launched a major campaign in order to expand into a world-class educational institution that preserves the stories of the Greatest Generation, while benefiting and inspiring future generations.

The National WWII Museum today received a $75,000 contribution from Whitney Bank. The gift will be used to support the Museum’s researchers and historians in their ongoing educational and preservation efforts, as well as honor the longtime Museum volunteer group affectionately known as the “A-Team.”

The National WWII Museum is on the cusp of its 15th Anniversary, and as staff members prepare for the occasion, they’re also celebrating an extraordinary new record – 73,449 Museum visitors in March 2015, a 31 percent increase from March 2014. This new high point for attendance in a single month comes on the heels of two recent achievements for the Museum – more than 515,000 visitors in 2014, a 14 percent increase from the previous year, and the opening of the latest pavilion on the growing campus, Campaigns of Courage: European and Pacific Theaters.

The National WWII Museum today received an individual gift of $20 million from longtime advocate and former Board Chairman Boysie Bollinger. Ranking among the top donations in the country to a non-profit organization or Museum, this is the largest private gift ever received by the Museum.

When The National WWII Museum first opened its doors on June 6, 2000, as The National D-Day Museum, legendary broadcaster Tom Brokaw and award-winning actor Tom Hanks were already among the ranks of its supporters. It was a natural fit for two men who have done so much to honor the personal stories of World War II, and the beginning of an enduring friendship with the Museum. Both Brokaw and Hanks have worked tirelessly throughout their careers to document the World War II story, educating millions of Americans about our shared history and strengthening the legacy of the greatest generation. On February 24, The National WWII Museum honored their remarkable careers with the presentation of its American Spirit Award.

The National WWII Museum’s live theater venue, the Stage Door Canteen, regularly plays host award-winning shows celebrating the music of the World War II era, but the newest offering takes us into the years following the war and celebrates one of country music’s first crossover sensations.
‘Always . . . Patsy Cline’ is a musical play, complete with down-home country humor, true emotion. The show includes many of Cline's unforgettable hits such as ‘Crazy,’ ‘I Fall to Pieces,’ ‘Sweet Dreams,’ 'Walkin' After Midnight,’ and many more.

While staff at The National WWII Museum are preparing for a very busy 2015, they are also looking back on a year of several major milestones for the New Orleans institution. The Museum ended 2014 with more than 515,000 visitors, a 14 percent increase from the previous year. On December 13, the newest pavilion on the growing campus, Campaigns of Courage: European and Pacific Theaters, opened to the public with the first phase of exhibits—"Road to Berlin: European Theater Galleries".

Now the story of that struggle is the story that unfolds inside the new Campaigns of Courage: Europe and Pacific Theaters pavilion opening December 13, 2014 at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans. Assembled for the first time in one space is the epic story of America’s citizen soldiers on the battlefields. Visitors will discover how the war that changed the world was fought and won through the words and deeds of the participants themselves – those called the Greatest Generation.

The National WWII Museum’s first-ever WWII AirPower Expo, in partnership with the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), was an unqualified success. More than 10,000 visitors came to the Lakefront Airport over the weekend to climb inside restored planes, including a B-17, C-45, and the world’s only flying B-29. Visitors were also able to speak with the veterans who flew iconic WWII aircraft.