Museum Celebrates Military Family History

By Iain McLellan

There is a museum celebrating military family history in Albuquerque New Mexico. It was founded by Army wife and mother and overseas “brat” Dr. Circe Olson Woessner and her father, DODDS administrator, Dr. Allen Dale Olson.

When asked about how the museum came about, Woessner recalls,

“One night I was watching TV while my son was deployed to Iraq and I thought about all the military families around the world who at that very moment had children or parents serving in harm’s way. All military families, from all generations, who have ever had a loved one deploy, have felt that curious blend of pride, of worry, of hope—and have had to draw on an inner strength to keep it all together outwardly, despite inner turmoil. That is something universal to military families throughout history.”

Upon this realization, Woessner put in some online queries about military families and came to the conclusion that she needed to create a museum entirely dedicated to the American Military Family.

“What we want to do in Albuquerque is to have a permanent, physical place where children, spouses, parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents, partners of service members– from all generations, all branches–can visit and experience a museum entirely dedicated to their stories and their history.”

To Woessner, it is important for people to recognize these elements of service and appreciate the unique military family cultures and subcultures.

“We want to create a learning community where people can come and see history through a different filter, relive their own military roots, open dialogue between the generations and leave with a deeper appreciation of what it means to serve as a military family and to be a child moving from school to school, country to country as a ‘military brat.’”

Woessner believes that the lifestyles of the current generation of brats are very different from the ones she and older generations of brats knew.

“Although most of my brat peers are in their late 40s to late 60s and our experiences as brats are vastly different from the experiences of military kids today, we still have much in common –this is apparent when we meet—even as strangers—because we can instantly relate. It’s like that old saying: the more things change, the more things stay the same.”

In collaboration with the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, a Smithsonian affiliate, the Museum of the American Military Family created the exhibit, Sacrifice & Service: The American Military Family. On its opening day, 300 visitors viewed the exhibit. In the months of June and July, approximately 15,000 visited the museum. After the exhibit closes at the end of August, the exhibit will travel to the Lea County Museum in Lovington, and to Los Alamos.

Although the Museum of the American Military Family is currently an online museum, the organization has been gifted seven historic military housing units from the early 1940ss and is in the process of fundraising to rehab them and set them in a permanent location in Albuquerque.

“With the help of grants and donations, we hope to have our groundbreaking in late 2014”, Woessner says. ‘We are really excited, so stay tuned! It is taking a village to raise this museum, and we are blessed to have so much support.”

Anyone interested in supporting this initiative should make contact with Dr. Woessner at circe@militaryfamily.org or at P.O. Box 5085, Albuquerque,

NM 87185. She can be reached by phone at (505) 504-6830.

Lea County Museum To Feature Our Exhibit: Sacrifice & Service!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM: THE LEA COUNTY MUSEUM
DATE: JULY 26, 2014

LCM TO FEATURE US MILITARY FAMILY EXHIBIT

The Lea County Museum in Lovington will present a very unique exhibit that celebrates America’s rich military history through the voices of its military families past and present.
Titled “Sacrifice & Service: The American Military Family” and now in its debut showing at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque, the exhibit will be on display at the Lea County Museum in Lovington for two months, October and November of this year.
NMNSH director Jim Walther says, “The strength, courage and commitment portrayed by all American military families is fascinating and inspirational. We are honored to host an exhibit that will resonate with many and is sure to paint a vivid picture of the stresses and excitement associated with having a service person in one’s family.”
The exhibit will remain at the NMNSH through August.

“Sacrifice & Service” includes military memorabilia, hundreds of photographs, and scenes from the home life that service men and women leave behind when their duty takes them to other parts of America and to destinations all over the world.
Themes in “Sacrifice & Service” include the temporary nature of military life, the losses and grief families experience, and the importance of continued communication with those staying home.Through written word and interactive activities, visitors to the exhibit experience the joy, the sorrow and the sacrifice of America’s steadfast and unsung heroes, the military family. The exhibit also shows the pride families have in supporting a loved one who is serving the nation.

“Sacrifice and Service” is the product of the creators of a new museum, Museum of the American Military Family and Learning Center, individuals who are currently in the process of acquiring the land and buildings that will make up the museum. With the help of many other volunteers, they are Executive Director Dr. Circe Olson Woessner and her father Dr. Allen Dale Olson. Woessner is an Army wife of twenty years; her her son is currently on active duty. Olson is a world War II-era veteran who has also worked for the US Defense Department.
“Sacrifice & Service” will be on exhibit in conjunction with the opening of the LCM’s new Lea County Military and Veterans exhibit which will open in September.
For more information about the LCM, call the museum at 575-396-4805.
More information about the Museum of the American Military Family can be found at “www.museumoftheamericanmilitaryfamily.org”.
More information at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History can be found at “www.nuclearmuseum.org”.

An Exhibit About Americans in Schweinfurt

Poster Schweinfurt und seine Amerikaner 25.Juli bis 21.September

Our friend, Dr. Simone in Germany sent this today:

Dear friends!

I hope you all are doing well and are enjoying a nice summer.

Here is some interesting news, that might be worth a trip to Germany:

Our Franconian neighbor-town, Schweinfurt is now also saying farewell to their long term American community. They are planning an exhibition for “their” Americans”. Some of you have taught in Schweinfurt, some were there at school as children or teenagers, I’m sure you all have heard the town’s name before or have visited Schweinfurt. The exhibition “Amerikaner in Schweinfurt” will certainly be worth a visit.

 

 

June News 2014

Ribbon Cutting with Adults and Children Sacrifice & Service 2014

This Winter whistled past us in a flash– we had so many programs going on, and much preparation was underway towards our exhibit: Sacrifice & Service. On May 26, the exhibit opened at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, and 300 people came to see it the first day. On May 30, we had a gala reception and 145 friends and supporters joined us in cutting the ribbon. Guest speakers Commissioner Wayne Johnson, Brig. Gen. Judy Griego, Nuclear museum Director Jim Walther and Museum of the American Military Family Director Circe Woessner made remarks. The Vietnam Veterans of America, Santa Fe Chapter posted the colors and the Patriot Guard Riders and Blue Star Mothers created a wonderful Flag Line. It was a truly beautiful celebration.

 

Second Lady Jill Biden and Senator Tom Udall each sent a letter welcoming visitors to the exhibit.

Since the opening, we have had visitors from China, Finland, Germany and from the United States write nice comments in the exhibit guest book.

We are already making plans to travel Sacrifice & Service once it closes.

It has been exciting to go into the exhibit and see where people have put pins into a world map showing where they have lived as military families…Gentleman in flowered shirt pinning pin to map

 

 

Veteran author and blogger Sparks and his wife Judy came to visit us and to do a book reading in conjunction with the exhibit. We also had book readings later in the month by J Allen Whitt and R Sam Baty.

 

Our board members were very busy throughout the communities during the Spring.

» Read more

Tribute to American Military Families Opens at National Museum of Nuclear Science & History Memorial Day, May 26th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASELogo City of Albuquerque

May 9, 2014

 

 

Tribute to American Military Families Opens at National Museum of Nuclear Science & History Memorial Day, May 26th

 

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—The City of Albuquerque is a sponsor for a new exhibition opening on Monday, May 26th at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History. Entitled “Sacrifice & Service: The American Military Family,” the special exhibition, which will be on display through August 31st, celebrates America’s rich military history through the voices of military families.

A collaboration between the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History and the Museum of the American Military Family created this inspiring exhibition that through written word and interactive elements allows visitors to experience the joys, sorrows and sacrifices of those unsung heroes who also serve—the military families.

Remaining behind while fathers and mothers sisters and brothers are deployed for long periods, traveling and living in far-flung corners of the world, uprooting and relocating—and establishing new homes, friends and connections over and over again—these families often receive little attention.

The Museum of the American Military Family is on a mission to bring attention these men, women and children who throughout our country’s history have served in the background, exhibiting incredible resilience through moves, losses and stresses of separation—all the while exhibiting pride and embracing the honor of supporting a loved one who is serving in uniform.

In addition to the exhibition, a number of special events have been planned:

May 31st           A book reading by Steve Sparks, Reconciliation, A Son’s Story at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

June 1st                        Steve Sparks returns with a reading of his book at 2:30 p.m.

June 15th          R. Samuel Baty reads from his book, Footsteps to Forever, joined by J. Allen Whitt reading from Notes from the Other Side of the Mountain at 11:30 am and 1:30 p.m.

July 4th:            Celebrate our Nation’s birthday with Poetry & Spoken Word by 4 Voices at 2 p.m.

August 14th       The film “Brothers at War” and a Q & A with filmmaker Jake Rademacher at 1:30 p.m.

August 23rd       View the film “We Served, Too” and a Q & A with filmmaker Jill Bond at 1:30 p.m.

 

In addition to the City of Albuquerque, sponsors for this special exhibition include Lockheed Martin/Sandia National Laboratories, Raytheon, Bernalillo County, Elks Lodge #2500, and Marriott Residence Inn.

 

The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History is located at 601 Eubank SE at the entrance to Sandia Science & Technology Park. “Sacrifice & Service: The American Military Family” is included in the price of admission to the Museum, which is $8 for adults and $7 for senior and youth. The Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

 

The Museum of the American Military Family and Learning Center brings together people with shared experiences showcasing and honoring those who also served—American’s Military Families. The Museum is gathering artifacts and recollections from American military families who served through war and peace in past decades and those who serve today in anticipation of the creation of a permanent facility in Albuquerque that will celebrate their lives and sacrifices for generations to come. For more information, please visit www.museumoftheamericanmilitaryfamily.org. For more information on the exhibition, visit www.nuclearmuseum.org

 

The event is sponsored in part by the Albuquerque Sister Cities Foundation and supported by the Cultural Services Department, City of Albuquerque, Richard J. Berry, Mayor. For more information on events and activities, please call 311 or visit http://www.cabq.gov/culturalservices. TTY Users call Relay NM or 711.

 

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The Museum of the American Military Family and the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History Present: Sacrifice & Service: The American Military Family May 26 through August 31, 2014

Photo of Sacrifice and Service at Nuclear Museum Poster

 

“Sacrifice & Service: The American Military Family” is a special exhibit that will open Memorial Day, May 26, and run through August 31 at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuqurque, NM.  This inspiring exhibition celebrates America’s rich military history through the voices of America’s military families. Through written word and interactive elements, visitors will experience the joy, the sorrow and the sacrifice of America’s steadfast and unsung heroes, the military family.

There is no additional admission cost to view the exhibit beyond regular Museum admission of $8 for adults and $7 for youth and seniors.

For more information, please visit nuclearmuseum.org.

MAMF NEWSLETTER, March 2014

Press Release: American Military Families Receive Tribute in Special ExhibitionIt may be just a coincidence, but we think it’s serendipity that the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History released the first press announcement about our summer-long exhibit on the very day we were setting up for our film presentation of “Brown Babies” at the South Broadway Cultural Center in Albuquerque. “Brown Babies: the Mischlingskinder” documentary is our Museum’s first big event done in partnership with other entities such as the City of Albuquerque, the Kirtland Federal Credit Union, Don Chalmers Ford, and the Residence Inn of Marriott, and our exhibit at the Nuclear Museum, opening on May 26, will be our second big event and by far the biggest in our short history. That both events received press attention on the same day shows that our stars are aligning. » Read more

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