At the AHM this weekend! WWII Pacific War Re-enactment – Battle of Okinawa, July 12th & 13th, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM![]()
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The American Heritage Museum will host a WWII Pacific Theater re-enactment. Infantry representing Japanese and American forces will clash in this extraordinary living history event. Camps will be set up with authentic gear and appearance. WWII aircraft will fly in the battle (weather permitting).![]()
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The Battle of Okinawa, fought from April to June 1945, was the largest and bloodiest battle of the Pacific Theater in World War II. The intense combat was marked by kamikaze attacks, brutal ground fighting, and high civilian casualties. The battle was the fiercest in the Pacific Theater, with some 50,000 Allied and 100,000 Japanese casualties, not including the local Okinawans who were conscripted into the Japanese Army. It is estimated that over 149,000 Okinawan people were killed. The Allied victory at Okinawa provided a critical staging ground for a potential invasion of mainland Japan, but the staggering loss of life and the fierce Japanese resistance significantly influenced the U.S. decision to use atomic bombs to end the war swiftly. Okinawa underscored the heavy cost of victory in the Pacific and hastened the final chapter of the war. Pacific war camps and aircraft will be set up and on display throughout the day. The battle re-enactment starts around 1 PM.![]()
For tickets see: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/wwii-pacific-re-enactment-saipan-campaign-2025/
Starting at 1pm at the AHM: Author George Hayward will talk about his book The Party Dolls. He delves into a dramatic and morally charged episode from the Vietnam War: the daring 1969 escape attempt—code-named “The Party”—by U.S. Air Force Captains John Dramesi and Ed Atterberry from Hanoi’s notorious Annex prison camp.
Start your 4th of July celebrations with a visit to the American Heritage Museum! We will be open July 4th from 10am to 5pm.
What is your favorite military car of all time?![]()
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Join the conversation and share your thoughts! 💭 Each week, We're posing a question about historical military vehicles, and we want YOU to weigh in. Whether you’re a history buff, or just curious—we want to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment below to cast your vote! 👇![]()
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#QuestionOfTheWeek
Here is this week’s challenge for “What is it Wednesday?” - What is it?! ![]()
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Thanks to everyone who played last week… the answer for June 25th is a part of the running gear on our LVT(a)-4… see the previous post for the full details!![]()
Good luck on this week’s challenge! ![]()
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#americanheritagemuseum #historymuseum #visitma
Some Options for Your Bequest
As you consider adding the American Heritage Museum and Collings Foundation to your planned giving arrangements, there are several ways to add language to your will or trust to add our organization as a beneficiary. Please see the examples below for bequest options and sample language.
Specific Bequest: “I bequeath Twenty Thousand ($20,000) Dollars [or: all my xxxx stock] to Collings Foundation, Inc. dba American Heritage Museum, a Massachusetts non-profit organization EIN 47-1954671, located in Hudson, MA.”
Residuary Bequest: “I bequeath Ten Percent (10%) of the residue of my estate to Collings Foundation, Inc. dba American Heritage Museum, a Massachusetts non-profit organization EIN 47-1954671, located in Hudson, MA.”
Contingent Bequest: “If my nephew does not survive me or is unable to inherit this bequest, I direct that it be paid to Collings Foundation, Inc. dba American Heritage Museum, a Massachusetts non-profit organization EIN 47-1954671, located in Hudson, MA.”
Please speak with your financial planner to learn which option is right for you. And, let us know if we may include you in our planned giving society!
Suggested wording to Make a Bequest to American Heritage Museum and Collings Foundation
The unconditional bequest . . .
“I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to Collings Foundation, Inc. dba American Heritage Museum, 568 Main Street, Hudson, MA 01749 (EIN 47-1954671) __________ percent of the rest, residue and remainder of my property, real and personal, (or the sum of $ ________ or other appropriately described property to be paid out of the real of personal property) owned by me at my death to be used for the living history and education purposes of the American Heritage Museum.”
The contingent bequest . . .
“. . . If any other the above-named beneficiaries should predecease me, then I give, devise, and bequeath the property, real or personal, which said beneficiary of beneficiaries would have received if they had survived me, to Collings Foundation, Inc. dba American Heritage Museum, 568 Main Street, Hudson, MA 01749 (EIN 47-1954671) to be used for the living history and education purposes of the American Heritage Museum.”
The bequest of residue . . .
“I give, devise, and bequeath to Collings Foundation, Inc. dba American Heritage Museum, 568 Main Street, Hudson, MA 01749 (EIN 47-1954671) all the rest of my property, real and personal, to be used for the living history and education purposes of the American Heritage Museum.”
The specific purpose bequest . . .
“I give and bequeath to Collings Foundation, Inc. dba American Heritage Museum, 568 Main Street, Hudson, MA 01749 (EIN 47-1954671) the sum of $__________ to establish the ______________ Fund, the net income of which is to be used for _________. If at some future date, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees of Collings Foundation, Inc., the income from this fund is no longer needed for the aforementioned purposes, then the Board is authorized to use said income and principal for the living history and education purposes of the American Heritage Museum.”
Questions? Reach out to us.
If you have any questions about this process or what might work best for your needs, please contact Ryan Keough, Director of Development at rkeough@americanheritagemuseum.org or call 978-562-9182 x203.
