Congressional Record
June 2, 2010 -
Please see the below, an excerpt from the May 28th Congressional record, where Gerald Connolly, Virginia’s 11th District Congressman, went to the House floor to recognize the Museum, and to honor the brave men and women who have served and are serving.
May 28, 2010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1001
RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICANS IN WARTIME IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA
HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY
OF VIRGINIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Friday, May 28, 2010
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the National Museum of Americans in Wartime (the American Wartime Museum), which will break ground later this year in Prince William County, Va. This museum is being built to honor all Americans who have served or presently serve our country in any branch of the United States military from World War I forward.
It will tell the stories and recognize the contributions and sacrifices of the brave men and women who dedicated themselves to defending and preserving our Nation’s freedoms through their service in the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, the Re- serves and the National Guard.
The museum will offer a unique interactive history of major conflicts from the 20th and 21st centuries and focus on educating young Americans about wartime experiences and the sacrifices made by those Americans who ‘‘answered the call’’ in service of our nation.
The American Wartime Museum is the culmination of a partnership between private and government entities. The Museum will be built on a 70 acre site that has been generously donated by the Hylton family of Prince William County. It will feature a large collection of vintage and modern operational military vehicles, some of which will be used for demonstrations and reenactments. There will be large out- doors ‘‘Landscapes of War’’ with authentic replicas of battle scenes. Visitors will be able to hear, touch and experience military vehicles, aircraft and naval vessels. The planned National Veterans Visitor Center will offer special services and activities for veterans including opportunities for military reunions and the ability to record oral histories for future generations of Americans. Visiting the Museum will be truly interactive and will not only educate but actually provide a very realistic sense of the experiences of those who have served in uniform.
This project enjoys broad, bipartisan support from the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States Congress. George Mason University is a key partner in this endeavor, which will provide new academic and research opportunities for students, historians and the public. The leadership team of the museum includes Craig Stewart, President and CEO; Allan Cors, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; former Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator Chuck Robb; a Medal of Honor recipient and other distinguished veterans; military historians, authors and journalists; and prominent business leaders.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues join me in recognizing the vision and dedication of those individuals and organizations that have worked together to create The American Wartime Museum. This museum will educate, inspire, and most importantly, honor all who have served our great nation in uniform. And as we celebrate Memorial Day this weekend, I also ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our sincerest appreciation to every man and woman who has answered the highest call of duty by serving our country in the United States military. Their sacrifice, honor, and selfless dedication to the defense and protection of our country is deserving of the utmost respect and gratitude of every American.
