RELEASED BY:Lt Col. Greg Hapgood

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
OFFICE:   (515) 252-4582
CELL:       (515) 971-6385
HOME:     (515) 986-5725

RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

JOHNSTON, IOWA…
 

SPECIAL VETERANS DAY PRISONER OF WAR
EXHIBIT AT IOWA GOLD STAR MILITARY MUSEUM

The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum will host a special Veterans Day Prisoner of War exhibit and discussion on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The museum is located at Camp Dodge, 7105 NW 70th Ave., Johnston, and admission is free.
 

The special display highlights the extensive P.O.W. medals and artifacts collected by Pvt. Bruce Longstreet, a World War II veteran and former P.O.W. The collection covers the period from the U.S. Civil War to the present. P.O.W. posters and military art will also be on display.
 

Iowans who were P.O.W. from any conflict are invited to participate in the discussions being held throughout the day, and all military veterans are also invited to share their stories with the public. At 1 p.m., a poem entitled, “A Soldier's Call,” written by Gene Swan, will be read by retired Col. Russell Bierl, director of the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum. Swan, a Des Moines native and veteran, wrote the poem to honor Iowa veterans. Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally created in 1919 to honor World War I veterans, and has since evolved into an observance honoring all U.S. veterans.
 

Established in 1985, the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum is the only federally-recognized repository for military artifacts in the state of Iowa. The mission of the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum is twofold: to preserve Iowa’s military history and honor the military service of all Iowans.
 

The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum’s permanent exhibits tell the stories of Iowans who have served in defense of their state and nation, beginning with the early settlement of the state in the 1840s, through the Global War on Terror. An extensive exhibit honors the 34th Infantry Division (“Red Bull” Division), which holds the distinction of serving the most continuous days in combat of any division during World War II. The museum also contains one of the finest military small arms collections in the Midwest. Additionally, an exhibit detailing the history of the Iowa State Patrol is also on display.
 

The museum is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays. Group tours are welcome and available by appointment; contact the museum for scheduling. For additional information or questions about the Veterans Day observance or the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, contact the museum at (515) 252-4531 or visit the museum website at www.iowanationalguard.com
 

For questions concerning this news release as well as additional information about the operations, training, and activities of the Iowa National Guard, please contact Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood, Iowa National Guard Public Affairs Officer at (515) 252-4582 (office), (515) 971-6385 (cell), (515) 986-5725 (home) or by e-mail at gregory.hapgood@ia.ngb.army.mil. You may also contact Master Sgt. Duff E. McFadden, at (515) 252-4666 (office) or (515) 480-7647 (cell), or by e-mail at duff.mcfadden@ia.ngb.army.mil .

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IOWA NATIONAL GUARD
Americans at Their Best