H.E.A.R.T.S. (Helping Every American Remember Through Serving) Veterans Museum Huntsville, Texas

Mailing Address

P. O. Box 6060
Huntsville, TX 77342

Street Address

1600 Financial Plaza
Huntsville, TX 77340

Phone: 936-295-5959
Fax: 936-295-0714
Email:
Web: www.heartsmuseum.com/

Related Links

www.tele-works.com/htbin/webware/default.asp?HR=23-13&agency=huntsville_city&perform=TXT

Admissions

None - Donations Encouraged

Description

The H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum is unique in that it provides a live history of American veterans beginning with WWII. When a tour is scheduled, arrangements are made for veterans from all branches of service to be at the Museum. The students are taken from one branch of service area to another to hear the veterans tell their stories of the wars and experiences they lived. Presentations are given from wives of veterans telling what it was like at home while their husbands were in the service. There are two former prisoners of war who discuss what it was like t be a P.O.W.

Plans are being made to move into a permanent location that will put the museum in a building that is part of the historical district of Huntsville. When this happens, the museum will have more than one level of display and a lot more interior room as well as exterior display windows.

On May 28, the museum will be hosting the dedication of the American Flag located at the local McDonalds. Also a monument will be dedicated to all Veterans from Walker County. The museum will observe June 6 (D-Day), participate in Genealogy Day on June 23rd, organize and host the July 4th parade, and host a banquet in observance of Veterans's Day on November 11th.

Participation in the Resource Sharing Project will open new doors for those who are involved in the Museum to learn about the availability of artifacts, literature and to gain new ides for new projects. This will also provide the opportunity to share solutions with other organizations in dealing with similar problems.

Through the H.E.A.R.T.S. Museum, Huntsville has been designated a Commemorative City in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War.

History

The H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum came about through a sequence of events that started with a Veterans Day, November 11, 1994, display in a window of the Blue Bonnet Antique Store in Huntsville. The display was in honor of a local veteran, Brigadier General Ray Lynch.

The following events took place in 1995: In January, Charlotee Oleinik, owner of the Blue Bonnet Antique Store, served on a committee that organized the celebration of the 50th anniversary of WWII. Janet McMillan, a history teacher at Mance Park Middle School, requested some of the local veterans present a program to her students in April. In September, a memorial service was given at the Huntsville Library in observance of Salerno Day, and in November, approximately 2,500 elementary and middle school students were bussed to the Huntsville Library for a week of presentations on WWII. Twenty to twenty five local veterans made these presentations.

In November 1996, the veterans made their presentations to different elementary schools and the middle school of Huntsville. These presentations continue to date.

In May of 1999, a small display of the Time Line of Wars in the Twentieth Century was made at West Hill Mall in Huntsville.

By this time the memorabilia and artifacts used by the veterans in their presentations had grown to the extent that room could not be found for storage. The West Hill Mall offered space to set up the military museum. After veterans and local citizens made renovations, the museum officially opened on July 4, 2000. It has grown from approximately 3,000 sq. ft. to 5,000 sq. ft. today

Artifacts Collections

Uniforms from all branches of the service including women's military beginning with WWI.; Pictures of Walker County veterans and how they relate to the school children.; Pictures of landscapes of battles, and various pictures taken of and by the service men and women are exhibited.; Personal letters and diaries and postcards written by the veterans while serving in the military.; Posters of various things relating to the different conflicts that involved Americans.; Replicas of tanks, airplanes, and small models of soldiers dressed in uniform.; Swords, guns and artillery.; Some artifacts worn and used by the German armies during WWII.; Replica of a foxhold.; Put tent with cot and other items used in the field.; A section of the Museum is dedicated the Holocaust and P.O.W.s from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Kosovo.; Another section is dedicated to the Red Cross Homefront.; Tools used by the men in the field including eating supplies, medical supplies, and other equipment. ;A 1947 Willy's Jeep was donated and is used in parades and other outdoor events.; A McClellan Saddle is on display.; One of the first reversible Marine camouflage fatigues is exhibited.

Research Collections

The Museum also contains a library honoring Lt. Leonard Bishop, one of the first veterans to participate in the presentations made within the local schools. A unique feature of this library is a collection of videos made of our local veterans telling their personal stories. The library contains books dealing with the history of the United States Military; major events of the wars and other subjects of military interest.

Library

Library is open to the public no appointment necessary
Appointment required: False

Services




Facilities

5,000 square feet with a total exhibition area of 3, 912 facility is wheelchair accessible

Programs

Veterans conduct tours and programs, in coordination with the school districts curriculum. These tours and programs are living history (with hands-on interaction) presented to all levels of school children, kindergarten to senior high school.

H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum, and the city of Huntsville, have been designated Commemorative Communities of the 50th Anniversay of the Korean War.

Patriotic holidays that have been observed through the efforts of the Museum are as follows: July 4th parade, Veterans Day Banquet honoring all military personnel, a Flag Day program, U.S. Army birthday party.

A special ceremony for the promotion of Lt. Col. Dennis Beal to Col. Dennis Beal, U.S. Marine, was hosted by the Museum on April 1, 2000.

Two streets, in the area of the Museum, have been renamed honoring our veterans.

Staff

Charlotte Oleinik


Museum Type

Children's
History

Governance

Type: 501 (c) (3)



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