A new World War Two exhibit opens in Natchitoches today that highlights the struggles and triumphs of 280,000 Louisiana citizens who contributed to America’s victory over the Axis Powers through military service nearly eight decades ago. The display is produced by the World War Two Museum in New Orleans.
“The WW2 Museum in New Orleans is the number two museum in the world, and they have a traveling exhibit that’s up at the sports hall of fame in Natchitoches and that will be a great exhibit there.”
That’s Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser who says The Pelican State Goes to War: Louisiana in World War II is a treasure that showcases the lives of Bayou State soldiers, and those on the Homefront who built the engines of war that toppled the Nazis and Japanese.
“It’s incredible, it tells the personal story of a lot of soldiers, it’s worth seeing,” said Nungesser.
The showcase will delve into the histories of Flying Tiger Commander Claire Chennault, civil rights leader and 761st Tank Battalion member Richard English, and others.
Nungesser hopes the success of the World War Two Museum’s northern expedition to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Musuem will convince locals to take the trip south to see the rest of the institution’s wonders.
“People in north Louisiana, hopefully they will go there, see that travelling exhibit, and it will entice them to travel south, because if they haven’t been to the World War 2 Museum, it’s something everybody needs to see.”
The exhibit will open with a reception from 5 to 8pm this evening, and a performance by the Victory Belles, a vocal trio that sings classics from the 40s.
The Pelican State Goes to War will be on display through March 15.
