New Members
WWII Oral History Project is Focus of Program at Veterans Day Open House
Fort Devens Museum celebrates Veterans Day on Saturday, November 12th, with three special presentations focused on veterans and military history. Kicking off the programs at 10:30 is Alan S. Manoian, Director of Community and Economic Development for the town of Ayer. He will share what he learned as he conducted extensive interviews with Lowell-area Armenian-American WWII Veterans as part of a large oral history project.
A 4th generation native of Lowell, Massachusetts, Alan has served as a municipal urban planning & economic development professional throughout New England for 25+ years. For two decades Alan has engaged thousands of local heritage tourists as a professional Urban Heritage Guide on countless Heritage & Historic Walking Tours in the towns and cities of the Merrimack Valley, southern New Hampshire and Maine. Advocating the principles and practices of New Urbanism, The Economics of Place, and Heritage Preservation, Alan believes our local and authentic New England Heritage & History are among our strongest economic development resources. Alan’s late-father, Sam Manoian, served 21 years as a US Navy Chief Petty Officer and Alan fondly remembers spending every weekend going to the Commissary & PX at Fort Devens.
At 12 Noon Elsa Watson of Lunenburg will talk about being an Army wife, married to the late Hermann Watson, and her experiences with discrimination being married to an African-American soldier. Elsa will also share her impressions of the home front in war as she grew up in Heilburn, Germany, during World War II.
At 1:30 members of Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Inc., will present a view of African-American soldiers who served their country throughout its history. They will also set up an all-day exhibition of limited-edition Buffalo Soldier prints.
In addition to these programs, exhibits are on view that chronicle the history of Camp and Fort Devens and the roles its men and women played overseas and on the home front. The Open House will take place from 10 AM to 4 PM and is free and open to the public with donations greatly appreciated. Light refreshments will be provided along with the chance to win some great raffle prizes.
The Fort Devens Museum is located on the 3rd floor at 94 Jackson Road, Devens, MA. The building is wheelchair accessible. For more information about this event please call 978-772-1286 or email info@fortdevensmuseum.org. Bring friends, family, and memories to enjoy this day of honoring and celebrating our Veterans and the unique history of Devens.
Fort Devens Museum
94 Jackson Road, Suite 305
Devens, MA 01434
Date and Time
Saturday Nov 12, 2016
