New Exhibits
On March 1, 2025, the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas (VHMC) will celebrate its 2025 Grand Opening with five engaging experiences: a new 3,500-pound artifact, a compelling addition to our most popular exhibit, a renovated and enhanced library, an engrossing conversation with a WWII Navy hero, and a “meet the author” book-signing event.
Haze gray and underway
Haze gray and underway is a United States Navy saying that refers to surface ships in arduous duty at sea; however, in this case it refers to a nuclear submarine’s anchor — the Veterans History Museum’s newest (and heaviest!) artifact — which graces the front lawn next to the cannon. The submarine anchor is a gift from the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Charleston, SC.
“After receiving permission from the county commissioners to place the anchor in front of the museum,” explained David Morrow, VHMC President, “our curator, Bobby Kotlowski, negotiated with Patriots Point to obtain the submarine anchor. Thanks to the use of Anchor Baptist Church’s road tractor and equipment trailer, Bobby and our founder, Emmett Casciato, moved this artifact from Charleston to Brevard.
“The anchor was from a Ben Franklin class submarine, probably the USS Simon Bolivar (a ballistic missile submarine),” explained Kotlowski.
“Its history started at the Charleston Naval Base when these submarines were being decommissioned. The anchor was taken off the sub and eventually mounted as a display. When the naval base closed, the artifact was transferred to Patriots Point until it was moved to Brevard.”
Six Triple Eight Joins our Jeep Display
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, nicknamed the “Six Triple Eight,” was an all-Black battalion of the US Women’s Army Corps (WAC) that managed postal services.
The 6888th had 855 women and was led by Major Charity Adams. It was the only all-Black WAC unit sent overseas during World War II. The group motto was “No mail, low morale.”
Now a member of the Six Triple Eight, carrying her mail bag, joins the museum’s Willys Jeep exhibit — an APO (Army Post Office) “somewhere in Europe.” The female mannequin’s uniform, mailbag, and all letters seen in the post office mail slots are authentic WWII artifacts.
French citizens and members of the 6888 sorting mail. Photo from the US Army National Museum
Where History Comes Alive
In the words of Scottish American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie:
“A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never-failing spring in the desert.”
Thanks to a grant from the Walnut Cove Members Association and a bequest from a generous benefactor, VHMC is proud to offer the public a greatly enhanced miliary history library with volumes carefully selected and organized by our museum’s professional librarian, Kathie Doole.
We anticipate further expansion in 2025 with the addition of a special section for young people, with a goal to enhance the educational success and advancement of students.
Our new library offers a curated selection of volumes about Americans in conflict from WWI through the Global War on Terror. Its space features enhanced shelving and cabinetry, computers, and video equipment.
Veterans’ stories come alive as visitors watch interviews of local heroes on a large screen. Finally, the space offers a table, chairs, and a computer for research or just quiet reading time.
Meet Joe Cooper, WWII Hero
In 2023, Brevard’s Mayor Maureen Copelof proclaimed March 1st “Joe Cooper Day.”
This year, Cooper, age 102, will visit the museum on opening day. Visitors will be able to thank and converse with this WWII sailor who served on the USS Ommaney Bay, where he survived a devastating kamikaze attack on January 5, 1945. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet and thank one of our local heroes!
“They Answered the Call” Book Signing
Brought together by World War II, Jack Breedlove and Eileen Friars answered the call to serve their respective countries: America and Great Britain. Jack was a Radio Operator and Gunner in the “Mighty” 8th Air Force. Eileen served as a Searchlight Operator in the women’s branch of the British Army, lighting up enemy aircraft during nighttime bombing raids.
Their story is captured in an engrossing account entitled “They Answered the Call,” written by museum volunteer John Luzena who will sign his book on March 1st.
Please join us on this very special occasion. You’ll surely agree that the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas is a small gem with a big heart!
The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas is located at 21 East Main Street in Brevard (beside the courthouse). Admission is free. The museum will open for the year on March 1. Hours are 11am to 3pm Tuesday through Saturday. For more information or to schedule a group tour, please call 828-884-2141.
Top photo: L-R: Bobby Kotlowski, Ken Corn, Mike Johnson, and Jim Schenfield took advantage of a not-so-frigid day in February to paint the submarine’s anchor haze gray and the chain black.
Pictured above, left to right: author John Luzena, Breedlove family members Susan Breedlove and Chris Whitmire, and publisher Janis Allen.
