Local Veterans and Their Stories
To preserve the memory and sacrifice of our veterans, the Freedom Museum is dedicated to documenting and sharing the stories of our local veterans, both past and present. Read some of the stories below that we’ve collected so far and check in regularly for new stories highlighting our veterans’ dedication, perseverance, and bravery.
Double V Campaign: Honoring Black Veterans
During WW II, The Double V campaign was a slogan championed by the Pittsburg Currier, which was dedicated towards promoting democracy for civilian defense workers and for Blacks in the military. Let’s delve into the origins of the campaign started by James G. Thompson in Wichita, Kansas.
Veteran Stories: Silver Star Medal Recipient Merle Hancock
Local Veteran Merle Hancock became a prisoner of war in World Was II. 70 years later, he was honored with the US Army's Silver Star Medal.
Veteran Stories: Prisoner of War George Idlett
Prisoner of War Survivor George D Idlett served as a Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Force during World War II. Despite the challenges he faced, he fulfilled his honor of being an American soldier with perseverance and grit.
Artifact Analysis: The Stories Behind the Art
During the World Wars, many new ways of creating art and photography came about to portray what battle and being on the front lines was really like. Check out the harrowing and brave stories behind three of the museum’s pieces and visit us to see many more.
William “Bill” Baker’s First Combat Flight
Local Virginian Bill Baker took his first combat flight in 1943. By the end of his career, he'd successfully flown 47 missions. Read all about his fascinating first experience in flight combat on our Freedom Museum blog.
Escaping the Impossible
Read about S/Sgt Monaghan’s Final Flight - how he survived a plane crash in March 1945 during World War II. With only a minute or so to get out before the plane went into a spinning dive, escape seemed impossible, but S/Sgt Monaghan persevered.