Something exciting is happening at 21 E. Main Street in Brevard. The WNC Military History Museum is changing its name and logo and expanding its emphasis on honoring our country’s veterans. “We’re enthusiastic about our new name, the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas,” said the museum’s curator, Emmett Casciato. “It reflects an enhanced emphasis on the contribution of our men and women in uniform, past and present. We’ve expanded the more restrictive geographical description of WNC (Western North Carolina) to include all of North and South Carolina, which better represents the draw of visitors we see every day.”
Brevard’s Katy Rosenberg has configured a new, eye-catching logo for the museum which includes a set of veteran’s dog tags and the tagline: “Remembering and Honoring Our Veterans.”
During 2018, the WNC Military History Museum (henceforth known as the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas) welcomed more than 10,000 visitors, both residents and tourists.
“We continue to acquire donations of priceless artifacts dating from the early 1900’s to 2018,” explained Casciato. “The Board of Directors and a team of enthusiastic supporters will be working diligently throughout the year to raise funds to acquire our own facility with expanded exhibit capabilities and spaces for community education and special events. It’s going to be an exciting and challenging year.”
Casciato and members of the Board of Directors thank all those who have supported the museum’s mission both financially and through volunteer efforts. “Local businesses, veterans and residents have made us the success we are today,” said Casciato. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”
The Board also thanks Transylvania County’s Board of Commissioners for extending the museum’s lease through June 2020, allowing time for a capital campaign to raise funds to purchase a facility.
“The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas will be closed until January 30, 2019 as we change displays and add new artifacts to our collections,” Casciato said. “We look forward to greeting old friends and making new acquaintances in the coming year.”
WWII uniform is part of a larger WWII European Theater exhibit.
Quilts of Valor recipients at the Veterans History Museum, formerly Military History Museum
Congressman Mark Meadows, Lunt Commissioner Larry Chapman, quilt recipient Mike DiRocco Special Forces, and his wife Maggie DiRocco
Congressman Mark Meadows
Feature Photo: WWII veterans (left) Bill Siniard, USN and Harold Wellington, USCG, were recipients of the Quilts of Valor ceronmony held in last year at the museum.