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? Naples Backyard History's Old Naples Museum, 1170 Third St. The Museum of Military Memorabilia will have WWII exhibits and artifacts on display at three locations throughout August: When McDonald joined the Army in 1959 to be a paratrooper like his cousin, he wore his cousin's buckle, McDonald recalled. It was McDonald's first item given to him at age 12 by his cousin when he came home after the war in 1953. McDonald has been collecting military memorabilia for more than 50 years.Īlthough it's hard for McDonald to say what his favorite item is, one of his favorites is a custom-made brass belt buckle that his cousin ? a paratrooper with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War ? got in Japan. The Museum of Military Memorabilia was founded in 2006 and has accumulated more than 10,000 artifacts for public viewing.Īirport officials believe the museum is a great fit, since the airport originally was constructed in 1942 as the "Naples Airdrome" that served as an Air Corps base during WWII for training gunners, bomber crews and fighter pilots, airport deputy executive director Sheila Dugan said. Later in the year, the museum will add memorabilia from WWI, Korea and Vietnam wars, along with a few items from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The scale-size model plane has a wing span of 52 inches, and a body length of 39 inches by 14 inches high.Īll aviation memorabilia from World War II will be showcased in the 900-square-foot space in the airport's commercial service terminal along North Road.Ĭurrently, the museum is constructing display cases to exhibit photos, medals, flight jackets, uniforms and newspaper clippings. Initially, the museum, a nonprofit organization, will feature about eight scale-size model planes inside the terminal, including the World War II Enola Gay, a Boeing B-29 ? the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb in Hiroshima, Japan.
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The Naples Airport Authority voted unanimously in June to provide free space at the Naples airport for the museum. Army from 1959 to 1962 and as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division from January 1960 to July 1962. "It's very important to us to preserve military history that isn't taught in school anymore and to honor all those who have served," said McDonald, of Punta Gorda. 11, museum president Robert McDonald said.
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Later this year, the museum is planning a grand opening for Veterans Day, Nov.
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The opening will coincide with Keep the Spirit of ?45 Alive observances. 1 in the commercial terminal at Naples Municipal Airport. The Museum of Military Memorabilia is slated to open Aug. What began as a military airfield base soon will house World War II memorabilia. The scale-size model plane has a wing span of 52 inches, and a body length of 39 inches by 14 inches high.
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