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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2016)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 Museum from 1A Murphy also spoke with World War II veterans and peo- ple who lived through the war. “These guys are amazing. I’ve had visitors go up to the map and point at one of the islands and say, ‘I bombed that.’ Their sto- ries are just incredible,” she said. OCMM staff estimate that 12 to 50 World War II veterans still live in and around Florence. One World War II veteran volunteers at OCMM every Saturday. “It’s just amazing to talk to them,” Murphy said. She described one interaction with a woman who was present in Times Square on V-J Day, when World War II finally ended on Sept. 2, 1945. “This one little lady was look- ing at the home front picture of the sailor and the nurse. She kind of winked at me and said, ‘Nurses weren’t the only ones the sailors kissed.’ It was just awesome to meet her,” Murphy KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS Sponsored by St. Mary Our Lady of the Dunes Knights of Columbus Assembly 3656 Florence, Oregon DIRK’S - 5 201 - F E BEST O F LO E N C R said. The war carried into the U.S. as well, with men and women who remained behind working in factories, aiding with recycling efforts and following strict rationing protocol. School chil- dren and youth also got involved in the war efforts. According to OCMM Executive Director Cal Applebee, schools and other organizations were able to raise money to “Buy a Jeep” for the soldiers. The jeep would then feature a plaque saying which school sponsored the vehicle. OCMM displayed one of the jeeps — sponsored by Florence High School and Mrs. Smith’s senior class — in 2010 when it held a Pearl Harbor Remembrance event at Three Rivers Casino Resort. “It was one of the ways we got launched with our real serious effort to start the museum,” Applebee said. The event featured several military jeeps and a chassis, and a replica of the USS Arizona, one of Pearl Harbor’s most heav- ily-hit battleships and a “total loss.” After it sunk, it was never raised and is now a war memori- al. “We had various displays around and had period music playing,” Applebee said. One of the features that really “made” the event for him was the period living room set up with vintage furniture and an old-fashioned radio playing FDR’s speech. “It’s quite a stirring speech to 7 A PHOTOS BY CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS Oregon Coast Military Museum’s exhibit on World War II’s Pacific Theater includes a map detailing the main battles. Pearl Harbor is No. 1, pictured above at far right. sit there quietly, like you’re sit- ting in your own living room on Dec. 8, 1941, and listen to FDR talking over an old radio,” said OCMM board member Sam Spayd at the time. “It’s quite a touching thing, and I’m glad we could do that.” OCMM is open Thursday to Saturday, so will not be open today. “Since Pearl Harbor Remembrance itself is on a day we’re not open, we’re running the PowerPoint presentation from our event in 2010 the rest of the week. We’re also going to run FDR’s famous ‘Day of Infamy’ speech,” Applebee said. It is one way OCMM will honor the Ameri- cans — including 20 Oregonians — who were injured or killed at Pearl Harbor and the thousands more who fought during the war that followed. Applebee added that Oregon was also the site of Japanese attacks during the war. Read his Military Heritage Chronicles on page 5A for more information. World War II veterans, their family members and area resi- dents have donated 1940s mem- orabilia to OCMM to contribute to the museum’s many displays. Applebee said that people are invited to continue the trend of shopping small businesses by purchasing stocking stuffers, clothing, toys and more at the museum’s gift shop. “You can support the muse- um, take care of the veterans and military enthusiasts in your life and shop local,” he said. For more information about OCMM, go to www.oregon coastmilitarymuseum.com. Guests are served a hot dinner and breakfast the next morning. “The ECWS has used cots from the Red Cross, but now all their cots are on the east coast because of flooding and storms,” Wood said. “We have purchased air mattresses. We received some generous donations of sheets, blankets, pillowcases and pillows. When a person comes to spend the night, they have clean linens and a fresh pillow. Everything gets washed between each use.” Dogs are also welcome, but must stay in crates outside. Families needing assistance are taken to local motels to spend the night. “The shelter is not the best environment for kids. We just aren’t prepared to have kids here,” Wood said. On Monday night, the Church of Later Day Saints provided din- ner. Pat and Mina Dickson pre- pared dinner on Tuesday night. The shelter served breakfast both days. ECWS is a collaborative com- munity effort involving area churches and volunteers. Anyone interested in volunteering to help with ECWS should call Greg Wood at 541-991-8208. “Being warm, dry and fed is what it’s all about,” Wood said. In other weather related news, power was lost to the Clear Lake Road and Westlake areas of Dunes City Sunday at 4:16 p.m., when a tree fell across a power line. The outage was repaired by 5:52 p.m. According to a Central Lincoln PUD representative, several hun- dred homes were without power. PRIVATE PARTY? Rent the Bus for a day! Call for more details! 541-590-0571 Siuslaw News + Best Burger! Shelter We serve Breakfast and Lunch! Donuts • Bagels Biscuits and Gravy • Breakfast Burritos Deli Sandwiches and so much more! Open 7 Days a week! Eat in or call for take out! 1136 Hwy. 101 • Florence •541-997-8630 from 1A the shelter is when weather is pro- jected to be below freezing with extra factors such as wind chill and rain,” Wood said. Flags displaying the ECWS logo are flown from five pickup locations around Florence to announce the shelter will be open that evening. Guests are picked up by a shuttle service and driven to the shelter location. NW Adventures Quest presents SHORE ACRES HOLIDAY LIGHTS BUS TOUR Daily Trips departing at 3:00 pm and returning at 7:30 pm. Complimentary Hot Chocolate and Snacks. Wheel Chair Accessible Singles: $30.00 Couples - $25.00 per person Large group - 10-13 people - $20.00 per person www.shoppelocal.biz We honor those that served. 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