Founded by the late historian Stephen Ambrose, the Museum opened its doors on June 6, 2000-the 56th anniversary of D-Day. Originally called The National D-Day Museum, it was established to remember those who stormed the beaches at Normandy. One year after it opened, galleries were added dedicated to the Pacific D-Days and the War efforts on the Home Front. In 2006 the name was officially changed to The National World War II Museum and it is on its way to becoming the foremost institution dedicated to the complete history of America's role in World War II.

- Louisiana Memorial Pavilion - showcases essential tools of the war effort, including the Higgins Landing Craft, Sherman tank, artillery, and the C-47 plane #096.

- The American Home Front - galleries take you through the Prelude to War.

- The D-Day Beaches

- The Pacific Theater - starts with the attack on Pearl Harbor; follow D-Day Invasions of the Pacific with antimated maps, artifacts, photos, and personal accounts, and much more.

The Museum offers Beyond All Boundaries exclusively in its Solomon Victory Theater. Created and crafted with 21st-century technology and utilizing a 120-feet wide immersive screen, the 4-D production plunges viewers into the 20th-century's most titanic struggle. It tells the tale of the Greatest Generation's journey from Pearl Harbor into the fire of epic battles to America's final victory in the War That Changed the World in the words of the veterans themselves. Narrated by Tom Hanks and including the voices of some of Hollywood's top stars brings to life the words of actual World War II participants and war correspondents.  Elements of Beyond All Boundaries may aggravate certain medical conditions. These elements include loud noises, flashing lights, fog effects, and sudden chair movements. Stationary seating is available. The film also contains images of a very graphic nature, including archival footage from the battlefields of WWII that may be too intense for younger viewers. Parental guidance is suggested.

During our recent visit to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Barb Gotham talked with Abbie Sumners, Donor Relations Manager, about how the 380th can contribute to the museum.

Personal items they are looking to add to their collection/exhibits include guns, shoes, fighting uniforms (but not service uniforms), pictures, and other artifacts. If you have any items you think they might be interested in (or think your personal story might be of interest), you can contact Ms. Sumners at: The National WWII Museum, 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans LA 70130-3813.

Other ways to contribute:

- Become a Member - starts at $35
- Victory Brick Program - $200/brick
- Theater Seat Donor - $5,000 or $10,000
- Planned Gift

For more info on any of these donation possibilities, call 540-527-6012 or see their website online at www.nationalww2museum.org

Tom Hunt's family donated $500 to the 380th last year - if acceptable to the membership, the plan is to use part of these funds to contribute to the Museum's Victory Brick Program (3 lines, 18 characters/ line). Please let Barb Gotham know if you have any objection to this use of the 380th's memorial funds.

Unfortunately, the next phase of the museum won't be open until after our reunion in November 2012 (they are anticipating a Veterans' Day opening). It will be the US Freedom Pavilion; this expansion will honor all of the service branches who served in the war, and will display the large artifacts that served on land, sea, and air, including a restored B-17 and USS Tang submarine. In the summer of 2013 they plan on opening the Campaigns Pavilion which will cover each branch of the military services and all campaigns of WWII on land, sea, and in the air. The final phase is the Liberation Pavilion (2015) with three distinct levels spanning the closing months of the war and immediate postwar years, concluding with illustrated direct links to our lives today; it will include a major film production and personal testimonies about the moment when victims had their freedom and liberty restored.

The National WWII Museum
945 Magazine Street
New Orleans LA 70130-3813 USA
www.nationalww2museum.org