Captain’s Corner

What an exciting year we have had.  We opened in Manassas on July 4th, 2021, and as I look back at what we have accomplished, it is simply amazing.  We moved from our previous location to the Hibbs and Giddings Building in Old Town Manassas in record time.  We changed from focusing on airplanes to focusing on our community.  We are telling he stories of our local veterans, and we have energized them and their families by emphasizing their relevance to history and their patriotism and sacrifice.

We hired a fundraiser, Kristin Perper who has brought energy and excitement to the museum.  She was the drive behind The Wedding Window which represents all the men returning from WWII to marry their sweethearts.  The beautiful bridal dresses were loaned by the Parrish, Rohr, and Anastasi families.  Many helped Tangs Bridal Shop put together the nostalgic and lovely window exhibit.

Jim Ortte continues to put his military magic and personal artifacts into our other exhibits. Visitors are impressed by our historic building and the professional look of our displays. Thank you Jim!

We have been visited by large numbers of people from all over Virginia, the nation, and many foreign countries.  Our small cadre of docents have presented our museum with friendly enthusiasm.  It has been gratifying to see people’s reactions to their Freedom Museum experience. We are now open 4 days a week.  We are always looking for volunteers to represent the museum to our visitors and listen to their stories.

Going forward, we have openings on our Board of Directors. The museum needs people who have time to donate and energy to help us steer our efforts.  We are currently looking for help in IT, Volunteer Coordinator, Membership Manager, Board Secretary, Speaker Series Coordinator, and Store Manager as we begin our new fiscal year.

Looking at our calendar of events, we have our Sock Hop coming up September 24th.  The committee is meeting regularly, and we need help to make this primary fundraiser a smashing success.  See Diane DuBois if you would like to help.

Fairfax 4th of July Parade

Ray Baybrook spruced up the museum rolling stock for the 4th of July.  He led the convoy to the early morning rendezvous.  We were invited by VFW Post 8459 and it was a very well organized event as it started on time and went off without a hitch. The parade route took us around the town square and was very well attended.  Orlando Rivera drove the jeep; Jim pulled the bomber with Ray’s beautiful red truck and Ray drove “Nelly” the Korean War Ambulance.  Ingrid’s kids, Sam and John were our re-enactors wearing uniforms from the museum. Then, we drove home, put the toys away (tarped the bomber) and opened the museum for visitors. It was a good way to celebrate the museum’s birthday as well as the birth of our nation.

New Exhibit: Samuel L. Gravely Jr

We have a new exhibit honoring Vice Admiral Gravely. He was the first African American to serve as an officer aboard a fighting ship in WWII. He was the first black commanding officer of a Navy Combatant Ship. He became the first black Fleet, Commander, first black flag officer and he retired in 1980 as the first African American Vice Admiral. When he retired in 1980, he moved to Haymarket VA with his wife Alma. We are honored to recognize the service of these residents and you can see a picture of the ship named after him. Alma was the one who smashed the bottle of champagne on the Bow at the launching of DDG 107, The USS Samuel L. Gravely.

Join Us at the Sock Hop!

Save the date, September 24th is the night we rock and roll.  We are looking for a sold-out event at the Bishop Russell Hall (Knights of Columbus) in Manassas.  There will be food and frolic for everyone, and Elvis will be there. You do not want to miss this one, get your tickets early, it is going to sell out to the first 250 that buy the $65 dollar tickets. People are dressing up as 50’s/60’s party goers.  Everyone is talking about poodle skirts, saddle shoes, and dancing the night away.  Anybody know how to hula hoop? Purchase tickets online here or at the Museum.

Memorial Day Bell Ringing

On May 30th, the Litton Hall Fife, and Drum Corps led us with patriotic music and the Osbourn Park NJROTC presented the Colors at our Memorial Day celebration held across West Street from the Museum.  Pastor Gene Wells prayed the invocation, and there were short remarks by Jim Porter reminding everyone that this was a day we remember those to whom we owe so much.    “We here, continue their legacy, and we hope to live a life that is worthy of them. To them we owe a more perfect union.”   Read his autobiographical poem about his service as a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam. The ceremony ended with echo taps played by Roy Wulf and Donna Flory.  The refreshments after were supplied by Chick Fil A Bristow.

Honoring LeRoy Alexander

Thanks to Jerry Martin, the museum was able to sponsor three banners that hang from light poles on Center Street. Chuck Colgan Jr., Capt. Ed Hallett, and Sgt LeRoy Alexander were chosen. The banners make a great patriotic statement in our city. 

LeRoy Alexander’s family saw his banner on Channel 4 News and contacted the museum.  We were honored to host the Alexander Family at the museum with a luncheon catered by delicious, donated food from Monza.  There were 22 family members, and they were led up Center Street to LeRoy’s banner by Roy Wulf playing the bag pipes. The whole entourage was filmed by Channel 4 News and seen locally and around the country.  Kristin Perper organized everything in two days.  B Z Kristin.

Wedding Window

Originally, I planned to have a window featuring a wedding scene highlighting the many marriages that took place in 1945. I tried and failed to get a parachute dress. It seems that silk was in short supply during the war and some returning veterans managed to furnish their brides with silk from their surplus parachutes.  I was unable to produce one, so Kristin canvassed the local families in Manassas and Chip Rohr loaned us his mother’s dress.  Judy Radcliff (Parrish) loaned us her mother’s dress. She said her mother, Maddy Parrish would have been happy because her wedding dress would at last be seen.  The Parrish couple was informed the day after the wedding that there was no film in their photographer’s camera, alas, no pictures of Maddy’s beautiful dress. 

In addition, Pete and Betty Anastasi added their wedding ensemble and celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary at the museum.  Pete is 100 yrs. old, and he arrived for the anniversary celebration on a motorcycle with a side car containing his bride.  He was quite the romantic, he read his wife a poem and drank a champaign toast to another year of wedded bliss. This was all filmed by Channel 4 News.  It was a fun occasion and great publicity for the museum.

Closing Remarks

We have been here in the Hibbs and Giddings building for a year.  I want to thank all the people who continue to be loyal to the mission of remembering our veterans and devoting time treasure and sweat to keeping the doors open.  The friends we have made at this location realize the value of our effort and are beginning to join us.   Our membership is growing slowly and the jolly band of brothers and sisters that   man the museum when we are open are looking for some new faces to share the duties of telling visitors the stories of our local heroes.  So, if you have a mind to, join us, it is mostly fun and satisfying.  Check out our website and our Facebook and you can see what we are doing and join in. 

I’ll see you at the Sock Hop, September 24th.

Jim Porter