AN HISTORIC EVENING AT THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM
September 22nd, 2009 | 5:12 pm
It was an honor to speak at our Nation’s World War II Museum in New Orleans this past Saturday evening. There were more than 400 people in attendance, twice the size audience that was expected. This has happened repeatedly in my travels lecturing: audiences everywhere are interested in the story of how a handful of 40 year old men managed to save so much of the art we all enjoy today. Dr. Nick Mueller, President of the Museum and lifelong friend of the late Dr. Stephen Ambrose, whose vision it was to build this magnificent museum, shared with the audience his determination to in time incorporate the telling of this story about the Monuments Men into the Museum’s comprehensive presentation of the story of World War II. There could be no greater evidence of how “untold” the story of the Monuments Men is than the fact that there is NOTHING about it in the Museum’s detailed and in depth coverage of the war. Dr. Mueller has been quick to see the power of this story and what an important part it is to the telling of the war experience, especially in the years that followed the end of the war as the Monuments Men remained in Europe for more than 6 years finishing the job they started.
This presentation was taped by C-SPAN and will be aired nationally in the coming days. Stay tuned for broadcast details and photos from the event!
