Name/Title
Waupun Historical Society will host WWII POW BUSeumScope and Content
This two page document announces the efforts of The Waupun Historical Society, Waupun Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Waupun American Legion and the Waupun Free and Accepted Masons to host the TRACES WWII POW BUSeum.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Jim Laird, President Waupun Historical Society
(920) 324-3878
cell (920) 948-5780
Feel free to make any changes you think necessary. Go to www.traces.org for other information
Waupun Historical Society will host WWII POW BUSeum.
The Waupun Historical Society, in conjunction with the Waupun Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Waupun American Legion, and the Waupun Free and Accepted Masons is pleased to announce a very special historical event. On Saturday, May 14, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm we will be hosting the WWII POW BUSeum. This converted school bus will be parked in front of the Waupun Heritage Museum at 22 South Madison Street in Waupun. Admission to all events is free but donations will be graciously accepted.
Hardly anyone alive today is aware that the first U. S. troops sent to fight in WWII came from the Upper Midwest, or that the region's 34th "Red Bull" Division served the longest uninterrupted duty in U. S. military history - about 600 days. Even fewer know that, as some 1800 mostly Upper Midwest soldiers were captured in one night in North Africa in February 1943, until the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, the most U. S. POW's in Nazi-German camps came, per capita, from the same region.
"Behind Barb Wire", is the exhibit on the BUSeum. The exhibit explores the experiences of the Midwest prisoners of war (POW's) who were imprisoned in Hitler's Third Reich, and the human context in which their experience took place. The Iowa-based, non-profit educational organization TRACES created this exhibit. Director Michael Luick-Thrams and guests historians travel with the mobile exhibit.
Early arrival is encouraged, as the tour is tightly scheduled and showings will begin and end promptly at the times indicated. Elderly visitors may wish to bring small flashlights.
Behind Barb Wire" poses five primary questions:
---- why did Midwest POW's survive certain conditions or experiences, while others did not.
---- what roles did art, freetime and religion play in helping those men who did not survive imprisonment by the Nazi regime.
---- why did some Germans or Austrians assist Midwest POW's, while others did not.
---- how did the liberated POW's later come to terms with their experience, and
---- how do countries once in armed conflict reconcile with each other: how do nations and the individuals who constitute a nation get beyond war?
In addition to the BUSeum, the Waupun Heritage Museum will be open. Special emphasis will be on our "Military Room." Members of the Waupun two Veterans organizations will assist Museum Volunteers in explaining the holdings in the Museum. The Museum recently entered over 300 news clippings from WWII into their computer and you will be able to see if we have any news articles about your parents or grand-parents involvement with WWII. The 1939 History of Waupun, which will be available, list Waupun Area Veterans from the WAR OF 1812, CIVIL WAR, SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, and WORLD WAR I as well as the WAUPUN NURSES IN WWI. The "Military Room" displays a large photo of the "Honor Roll" of WWII, with the names of WWII soldiers and the GOLD STAR WIVES AND MOTHERS can be easily read. The Veterans groups will also explain and accept donations for the War Memorials they are constructing in Shaler Park. A form will be available for you to take home and return with biographical information about members of your family, this information will be entered into our computer and you will become part of Waupun's history. TRACES and the sponsoring groups invites former POW's to join the BUSeum tour to talk to exhibit visitors and speak about their experiences.
Two power-point presentations will be given in the neighboring Masonic Temple. The first, at 2:30 pm will be "The Fritz Ritz: German POW's in the Upper Midwest." This presentation should be of special interest to Waupun Area citizens, Waupun had a POW camp in the city. The second presentation, "Behind Barbed Wire: Midwest POW's in Nazi Germany" will be shown at 3:15 pm. Viewers of these presentations will be given the rare opportunity of seeing the inside of the Local Masonic Temple, one of the most beautiful in the area.
Clinton and Sylvia Smith recently donated a beautiful reed organ, labeled "G. Telinde, Waupun", to the museum. Sylvia has graciously agreed to play the organ for us starting at 3:00 pm. Come and get an idea how people entertained themselves and how church music was made prior to the arrival of electricity. Reed organs offer a simple, pleasant, sound rarely heard today.
Don't miss these events. We are sure you will be talking about them for years to come. For additional information about the BUSeum it is suggested you go to: "www.traces.orgAcquisition
Accession
2016.0068Source or Donor
Waupun Historical SocietyAcquisition Method
Collected by Staff
