JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
To honor the legacy and sacrifice of World War I and World War II veterans, the U.S. Army Transportation Museum has partnered with The Virginia WWI and WWII Commemoration Commission to display the Profiles of Honor Mobile tour exhibit at the museum on Fort Eustis, scheduled for March 9 – 10, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“One of our biggest hopes in designing the exhibit is that people will walk away with a sense of remembrance and pride,” said Rusty Nix, Virginia WWI and WWII Commemoration Commission communications manager. “We also hope to show the military community and today’s service members that in honoring our past veterans, their own service and sacrifices won’t be forgotten either.”
The tour is a mobile museum that travels around the state promoting Virginia’s impact during both wars by giving visitors a chance to view artifacts, full-scale replicas of battleship bridges and tanks, and hear the stories of the men and women who served.
This will be the first time the U.S. Army Transportation Museum will host a mobile tour exhibit. Hosting the exhibit coincides with Fort Eustis’ centennial, and will give community members a new perspective on Fort Eustis’ influence, said Marc Sammis, museum curator.
“Most people don’t realize exactly how much of an important role Fort Eustis played in both wars,” said Sammis. “The installation trained coast artillery, trench mortars and balloons during WWI and then became an anti-aircraft training center during WWII. I think the mobile exhibit is an interesting concept that uses a clever way to bring history to people.”
Visitors are also welcome to bring personal photos, documents or letters from the wars to be digitally preserved. The items will then be displayed on the exhibit’s website, inside the exhibit and permanently archived in the state’s records at the Library of Virginia.
“It is a wonderful way to preserve your own family’s history by having it archived and have your story told wherever we travel,” said Nix. “We encourage visitors to bring their items to scan and utilize this unique opportunity.”
Joint Base Langley-Eustis and local community members are invited to take advantage of this limited time opportunity. Those without a military identification card must get a pass from the visitor’s center outside Fort Eustis’ main gate.
For more information on the mobile tour visit Caution-www.VirginiaWWIandWWII.org/tour.