Dame Vera Lynn, who died on June 18, 2020 at age 103, inspired millions of people in Great Britain and the United States through the darkest days of World War II. 

In celebrating the 20th Anniversary of The National World War II Museum’s opening we are taking time to look back at the many volunteers who have helped make the Museum what it is today. One of the longest-serving volunteers was a man named Richard M. Warren. Better known as “Doc,” he worked with all three Higgins boat restoration projects until his passing in June 2015.

The Museum looks back and remembers volunteer Pearl Jacobs Daube (1924-2013), WWII war bride and National WWII Museum volunteer from 2006-2013.

As the Museum celebrates its 20^th anniversary, we are also taking time to remember some of our volunteers who play a vital role in many areas. The Museum has been fortunate over the last 20 years to have WWII veterans serve as volunteers. One of those was Jimmy Dubuisson, who volunteered with the “Higgins Boat” crew for nearly 20 years.

Bob Zawada, WWII veteran, was wounded in action and then captured, during the Hammelburg Raid. As a Museum volunteer he left a lasting imprint on our Education and Curatorial Services Departments.

The National WWII Museum offers a final salute to Bert Stolier, who died Monday, June 13, 2016. He was 97, and the longest-serving WWII-veteran volunteer at the Museum.

On March 8, 2012, The National WWII Museum lost a treasured member of our family. Vernon Main was a WWII veteran and longtime Museum volunteer.In addition to his work here at the Museum, Vernon carried our mission to schools, nursing homes and community centers across the region as a member of the Speakers Bureau.

On Thursday, January 15, 2015, The National WWII Museum acknowledged a sad milestone in the death of the Museum’s legendary volunteer Thomas Blakey, a former U.S. Army paratrooper who fought in the European Theater. Blakey died at his home early Thursday morning.

The National WWII Museum mourns the loss of WWII veteran and longtime Museum champion Ralph Crump, who peacefully passed away on March 16.

WWII Veteran, Pioneering Marine, Museum volunteer

Frances Skiba Hoffmann, a WWII veteran and one of the first members of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve, died last week in New Orleans at age 96 of COVID-19. She was a beloved member of our Museum family.