Here we have the The National World War II Museum in New Orleans. The museum focuses on the contribution made by the United States to Allied victory in World War II. Founded in 2000, it was later designated by the U.S. Congress as America's official National World War II Museum in 2003.The Museum maintains an affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution. If you ever have the opportunity to visit this museum, I strongly recommend you do so and take any children you know along with you. Never have I been so moved by the bravery and sacrifice of our fighting men and women as when I watched the 4-D movie narrated by Tom Hanks. It will certainly bring history to life for young people for whom World War II is only a spot on a time line.
Some may wonder why The National WWII Museum is located in New Orleans, a city known for other tourism sites but which is not usually associated with 20th-century military history. The Museum opened as the D-Day Museum, focusing on the amphibious invasion of Normandy, then opening a second gallery exploring the amphibious invasions of the Pacific War. As the Higgins boats vital to amphibious operations were designed, built, and tested in New Orleans by Higgins Industries, the city was the natural home for such a project. Furthermore, New Orleans was the home of historian and author Stephen Ambrose, who spearheaded the effort to build the Museum and wrote the book which inspired the miniseries Band of Brothers.
In the distance you can see the statue of Henry Clay, U. S. Senator representing Kentucky, but who was looked on as the key defender of the interests of the western states and territories. The statue is located in Lafayette Square, so named in honor of Lafayette's visit to New Orleans in 1825.
There is a whole lot of history in this one picture!
@bkbinthecity I would like several more days to really see everything. The movie was so moving, I could hardly give the other displays the attention they deserved.
