A Salute to the Soldiers

This New Orleans museum commemorates the service of a special generation.

"They were both just boys. One conI vinced his mother to sign for him, allowing him to join the Marines at age 17. Soon the Birmingham, Alabama, boy, whose only conflicts had occurred as a high school football player, found himself fighting on Iwo Jima.

The other young man had rarely roamed far from his home on a South Alabama farm. After joining the Air Force at 21, he spent three long years in England, Italy, and North Africa.

These were but two of the boys who fought in World War II. The first is my father-in-law; the other, my father. They-and thousands like them-are rightly honored at The National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

A Place for All

Formerly known as The National D-Day Museum, this popular 16,000-square-foot attraction is bigger and better than ever. It honors all branches of the military and all locations where "The Greatest Generation" fought.

What You'll See

When you first enter the museum, look up to see a restored Douglas C-47 plane that flew over the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Other popular items include a Higgins landing craft (created in New Orleans), jeeps, and Sherman tanks.

Galleries filled with artifacts occupy the second and third floors. Hear oral histories from soldiers who were there, telling of their experiences. Then move on to the exhibit chronicling the invasions in the Pacific.

Before you leave, don't miss out on the wonderful museum store. I found Air Force and Marine Corps shirts for both my father and father-in-law. They wore them proudly, just as they wore their uniforms proudly for their country so many years ago. -WANDA MCKINNEY

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Sep 2007
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