VIRGINIA MILITARY MUSEUM (Mark)

I had been looking at exhibits for several hours here before the first group of students arrived on a field trip. 

I overheard the docent explaining the museum had been in existence for 102 years.  A small boy asked in amazement “How can it be more than 100 years old?”

The docent explained some of the exhibits were 275 years old, but that was simply too many years for the young boy to even comprehend.

This post will only contain posters exhibited at the Museum.  I will be doing another post with some of the objects.  I was at the museum for five hours, and took over 200 photographs.  I could - and probably will - return, as I have much yet to see.

I sent this out on our family text string.

As Cheri pointed out, the Uncle Sam portrait has changed over the years.  In this model he does look really quite angry.

I really like this poster; my dad is a retired aircraft mechanic.

It is interesting to me, what the ratio of hours needed to maintain an aircraft is to the number of hours it has flown.  The best numbers I could find for the above aircraft in the Korean War era would be about 18 hours of work for every hour in the air.  And that is if no battle damage is incurred.

This was produced by the A.E. Devney Company of Cleveland Ohio in 1917.  It was the third series of War Bond efforts.  It was designed to be hung on the front door of a house.

Cheri and I both have a love of books and the library!  We have an awesome system in North Carolina, in which Cheri would be ranked a super user.  This poster is another of the WWI era.

[Editor's Notes:  I pick up the library books for both Mark and me.  The librarians must think I have extremely varied tastes.

If the books that were available to the armed forces to read are interesting to you, check out this online exhibit from New York City's Grolier Club.  I really wanted to see the live exhibit, but we never developed a plan to go.]

This poster really leans into the Americana feeling.  It is interesting to see how the effort to keep people involved in buying the bonds had to be refreshed with each new series. 

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And if you did not have any money you were encouraged to help by conserving in any way possible. 

Reduce, Re-use, and Recycle were patriotic concepts, and I believe these concepts should continue to be reinforced today.

The posters of many different countries were on display.  Due to time constraints I focused on American posters, but this Greek poster really caught my eye:

Finally, a poster honoring Doris “Dorie” Miller (October 12 1919 - November 24, 1943), recipient of the Navy Cross.  Miller was a mess attendant aboard the USS West Virginia on December 7th, 1941.  He helped carry wounded sailors to safety, then manned an anti-aircraft gun, even though he had no training.

Miller is officially credited with downing one attacking Japanese aircraft.  Eyewitness claimed he downed several more than the one he was credited with.  

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