On Saturday, Nov. 28 at 3 p.m. the Martha’s Vineyard Museum celebrates the opening of its new exhibit, Those Who Serve — Martha’s Vineyard and World War II, with an afternoon program featuring Vineyard veterans of World War II. Guest speakers will include Ted Morgan of Edgartown, who served as a medic with the 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. Mr. Morgan will speak of his experience in six campaigns, including jumps into Normandy and France as part of the D-Day operations; Italy, Sicily, Holland and the Battle of the Bulge.
Betty Honey, who worked with the civil defense efforts in Vineyard Haven, will talk of blackout drills, rationing and ingenious ways to “make do” during wartime privations.
Hector Asselin will talk about coming to the Vineyard to serve at the Naval Air Station at what is today the Martha’s Vineyard Airport, and the activities he organized to improve the troops’ stay there.
Finally, Meverell Good, a veteran of the 10th Mountain Division in Italy, will round out the program. The program will be held in the parish hall of the Federated Church with a reception at the museum to follow.
The World War II exhibit features oral histories, photographs, memorabilia and artifacts from Vineyard people who experienced the war years, at home and overseas. Among the items on display are an anti-blackout suit, a Congressional Medal of Honor, and ration books.
A reception at the museum will follow the opening. Admission is free to members, $10 for nonmembers. For details, call 508-627-4441 or mvmuseum.org.
The museum is open year-round, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Beginning Friday, Nov. 27, members receive a 15 per cent discount on gift shop purchases. Nonmembers receive a 10 per cent discount. Books, jewelry and one-of-a-kind items are all on sale.
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