1 B
SIUSLAW
NEWS
Siuslaw Valley Senior News:
The Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
FAX: (541) 997-7979
pressreleases@thesiuslawnews.com
WEDNESDAY
MARCH
11
•
2015
Oh say can
Oregon Coast Military Museum
volunteers prepare for July 4 opening
by assembling exhibits
B Y C HANTELLE M EYER
Siuslaw News
PHOTOS BY CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS
Above, artist Judy Murphy demonstrates her technique for the military museum’s World
War I display. She completed the floor-to-ceiling mural in one week. Right, the muse-
um has racks of dress uniforms and fatigues. There are examples of standard and for-
mal military gear from the early 1900s through current conflicts.
V
olunteers have started
to assemble exhibits
at the Oregon Coast
Military Museum, an achieve-
ment six years in the making.
The grand opening of the
museum will be on July 4.
“We have quite a collection
now of military memorabilia,
weapons, protective gear,
souvenirs and uniforms. We
even have a World War I
sailor’s uniform with wool
skivvies. It’s just amazing what
people have donated,” said
Gina
Cassidy,
volunteer
Historic helmets, from WWI-era German and French
styles and ranging to newer styles, await the museum’s
completion. Donated artifacts will be part of displays and
exhibits. Archivist Gina Cassidy makes careful notes of
each item.
archivist for the museum.
People across the area have
donated items dating from
WWI all the way up to the cur-
rent conflicts.
Interactive exhibits will rim
the newly sheetrocked interior
of the building, starting with
WWI and working up.
Judy Murphy is the artist in
charge. Her experience comes
from years of set designing.
She is the mastermind
behind the murals and many of
the displays.
“I’ve got a lot of books
upstairs in the archives and
photos about the wars, so I
really try to make it authentic
and like it really was,” she
said.
Board president Tim Sapp
said, “She’s had a lot of profes-
sional experience.”
There also will be a refer-
ence library and theater area to
show historical documentaries.
“If anyone is doing research,
they will be able to come look
through our books and videos.
We hope to have students come
down and see it for special
field trips,” said board member
Tom Benedict.
Volunteers have donated
their time, labor and expertise
to the building of the museum.
Benedict, Jim Parsons and
Dorland Neale are just some
of the people who have helped
with construction and mainte-
nance.
“It’s all donated work,
donated volunteer time,”
Benedict said. “That’s one
thing I love about this commu-
nity. This is one of the most
generous communities I have
ever been in. The people want
to give, want to help and want
to see something succeed.
That’s what makes this com-
munity a good one.”
They’ve come a long way,
but they still have a ways to go.
Sapp said, “We want the
word to get out there. It’s nice
to tell them this is coming on.”
Benedict said, “We’re cur-
rently looking for grant writ-
ers.”
“We’re also still seeking
artifacts — and cash!” Sapp
said. “We rely entirely on
donations. We have a website
and there’s a donate button
right on there.”
Donations can be in small
amounts or can help sponsor
specific items like flagpoles
and benches.
They also are seeking arti-
facts to add to displays, espe-
cially military fatigues that can
be used on mannequins.
The museum wants to pre-
serve details and stories.
Archivist Cassidy records
information on each item,
then goes through records to
verify. She has been able to
connect family members with a
letter written during World War
II.
“We treat everything with
respect and appreciation. And
it’s a lot of fun. I feel very for-
tunate to work in this capaci-
ty,” Cassidy said.
Volunteers want the exhibits
to be as hands-on as possible.
While they are unsure what
that looks like now, they want
to show the reality of the mili-
tary.
A future project might
involve recording stories from
area veterans.
“We still have quite a few
WWII vets in the area,” said
Benedict. “It would be wonder-
ful to have them sit down
in front of a camera and
talk about their experience. ... I
love listening to them. They
can just mesmerize you with
some of their stories.”
The Oregon Coast Military
Museum is at 2145 Kingwood
St.
To learn more about
exhibits, dates and ways to
donate, go to kilroycorps.com
or call 541-902-5160.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
you see?