One of the goals of the American Heritage Museum is to encourage our visitors to learn about the veterans in your own family and reflect on the experiences they went through during their service. When we first started, our focus was on our World War II veteran community, but sadly, many of our WWII veterans are no longer with us and many family members only learned about their service after their passing. Think of the WWII veteran that was in your life... family or friend. What is the one question you'd ask them today if they were still with us? Such questions may inspire others who have veterans in their life to ask the same and keep their stories alive. ![]()
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Please share your questions in the comments. ![]()
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Photo of WWII B-24 pilot Frank Tedesco (1921-2020), 451st BG and friend of the Collings Foundation via Emily Clark - Wicked Local (2013)![]()
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#WWII #veterans #WWIIveteran #VeteranLife #AmericanHeritageMuseum
Read the full post at: bit.ly/3FkwQZM![]()
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That old saying “the devil is in the details” certainly holds true for the ongoing restoration of Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina BuNo 2459 in New Smyrna Beach, FL at American Aero Services. Though the exterior restoration is mostly complete, the interior restoration to bring the aircraft back to accurate 1942 wartime configuration has been an enormous task that has tested the skills of the restoration crew led by project manager Casey Littrell. Because the aircraft arrived from Europe with little original equipment, nearly all of the interior components have either had be found or fabricated. And considering the early vintage of this PBY, original equipment is scarce… so just sourcing the materials is a monumental task in its own right. And for items that need to be fabricated, finding original drawings or photos to accurately reconstruct items is an additional challenge... (continued)![]()
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Please read the full update with a gallery of photos at: bit.ly/3FkwQZM![]()
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#PBYCatalina #PBY5A #FlyingBoat #USNavy #NavalAviation #AvGeek
The American Heritage Museum is pleased to announce the launch of our first BSA Merit Badge Program for Scouting America for the American Heritage Merit Badge. Learn More at: bit.ly/43DVnDd![]()
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Every Scout swears to an oath that includes duty to their country. The American Heritage Merit Badge encourages a better understanding of American heritage, learn the ways in which the past has lead to our present nation, and truly knowing what it means to be an American.![]()
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The American Heritage Merit Badge at the American Heritage Museum is a three-hour long program, which includes museum admission and a guided tour for scouts and leaders. By the end of the program (prerequisites required) the scout will have completed all requirements to earn the merit badge. The program is conducted by a registered BSA Merit Badge Councilor. A minimum of 10 scouts and 2 BSA registered adults is required per session and adults may be asked to assist.![]()
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The program cost is $40 per Scout and BSA registered adults are free. To learn more about the program and to schedule, see: bit.ly/43DVnDd
Presentation on the Six Triple Eight today at the American Heritage Museum! Starts at 1pm. Hope you can make it. See: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/speaker-series-the-six-triple-eight-all-black-all-female-bat...
Another great reason to become a member of the American Heritage Museum... we are proud to announce that we are now part of the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) that affords select AHM member levels to have free access to over 1,400 museums nationwide! www.americanheritagemuseum.org/2025/02/the-american-heritage-museum-is-now-part-of-the-north-amer...
Speaker Series: Through My Father’s Eyes – Untold Stories of Easy Company
May 10 @ 1:00 pm, ending 2:30 pm
Free with standard museum admission
Join us at the American Heritage Museum on May 10th for an amazing talk by George Luz, Jr. about his dad George Luz, Sr., who was part of the original Band of Brothers.
George Luz, Sr., was in Company E, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division. Better known as Easy Company—was one of the most famous units of World War II. Their story was popularized by Stephen Ambrose’s book Band of Brothers and the HBO miniseries of the same name.
- Easy Company was formed in 1942 at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, where they underwent intense physical and airborne training under the tough leadership of Captain Herbert Sobel.
- The unit became known for their running up Currahee Mountain (“Three miles up, three miles down!”), which helped them develop exceptional endurance.
- Easy Company parachuted into Normandy in the early hours of D-Day as part of Operation Overlord.
- They were scattered upon landing but regrouped under the leadership of Lt. Richard Winters.
- One of their most famous engagements was the assault on Brécourt Manor, where they took out a German artillery position firing on Utah Beach, a textbook small-unit action still studied in military academies today.
- Easy Company participated in Operation Market Garden, an attempt to secure bridges in the Netherlands.
- They fought in and around Eindhoven and Nuenen, facing heavy German resistance.
- The operation ultimately failed, leading to a prolonged and brutal winter campaign.
- Easy Company played a crucial role in defending Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge.
- Surrounded by German forces, the 101st Airborne endured freezing temperatures, shortages of ammunition and supplies, and relentless attacks.
- Despite being outnumbered, they held their ground until relieved by General Patton’s Third Army.
- In early 1945, Easy Company advanced into Germany, capturing strategic towns and military positions.
- They took Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s mountaintop retreat in Berchtesgaden, in May 1945.
- The company remained in Germany for occupation duty before returning home.
- The men of Easy Company became known for their camaraderie, courage, and exceptional battlefield performance.
- Many members went on to live notable postwar lives, with their experiences documented in Band of Brothers.
From reunions all over the country, George Jr. learned about the deep relationship that his father had with these men and years later began to understand the horrors they suffered and endured in combat.
Although George Sr. was killed in a tragic accident in 1998, George Jr. made a promise to his father’s memory that he would move forward and do everything he can to share his story and the story of Easy Company.
