Mississippi Armed Forces Museum {Life}

Happy Thursday y'all! 
We hope everyone has had a great week so far and that y'all's weekends will be even better. If you're looking for something fun to do with the entire family we suggest checking out the newly expanded Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby. Keep reading for a little bit of the museum's history! 

Generations of brave Mississippians have served in our great nation’s Armed Forces. Their endless sacrifices have ensured our safety and freedom. The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum’s mission is to honor, remember, and educate the public about these sacrifices. Director of the Museum, Thomas Lofton, adds, “ While most folks may only set aside one day a year for special days like Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, or Veterans Day, our museum strives to honor veterans every day and do what we can to collect, preserve, and display their stories for future generations of Mississippians.” The recently expanded museum stands proudly on the campus of Camp Shelby in southern Mississippi. For over one hundred years, Camp Shelby has functioned as a military training facility for multiple branches of the United States Armed Forces. The Camp was the second largest training facility during World War II and continues to be pivotal in preparing troops for overseas service. Camp Shelby’s campus is expansive, covering 134,000 acres of Perry, Forrest, and Greene counties.

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In 1984, two retired veterans, Donald Evans and Doug White, converted a small room inside a warehouse on the property into a display of their personal collection of military artifacts.  The collection began to grow as more veterans donated to what was the beginning of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum as we know it today. Only nine years after the start of the Museum, the collection had grown too large to be contained in the original space. The collection then moved to a larger space on Camp Shelby’s grounds in 1993. In 1999,  the Armed Forces Museum Foundation, military veterans, and state and local leaders secured 4.5 million dollars from the Mississippi State Legislature to fund the construction of a brand new facility. Construction of the Museum’s current building was completed in October of 2001. The Museum has continued to expand and renovate, updating exhibits and creating space for new galleries.

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The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum’s exhibits are creative and engaging for all age groups. Historic artifacts and documents combined with video installations are excellent tools for educating visitors about the history of the American military.  “Numerous letters, photographs, and some diary accounts from various wars help tell the story of some veterans, but also provide examples and experiences to visitors who are attempting to better understand the evolution of warfare and the service or sacrifice of their ancestors,” says museum director Thomas Lofton. “We not only try to recognize those who gave their lives for our freedom throughout the course of military history, but also try to acknowledge their families that suffered and grieved directly from that loss for many generations to come. In fact, near the front entrance of the museum is the first, and so far the only, Gold Star Families Memorial Monument recognizing the families that have lost so much for freedom.”

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The Museum also houses recreated trenches and jungles to create an immersive experience for visitors. These exhibits highlight the significant role Mississippi plays in the United States Armed Forces as well as a general history of the United States Military. The galleries in the Museum are organized by time period. The exhibits span the history of the United States Military and include the 19th Century, First World War, Second World War, Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Global War on Terrorism exhibits.  The Museum also has a number of outdoor exhibits, making the visitor experience truly comprehensive. On the grounds of the Museum, guests will find beautiful memorials and a vehicle park with aircrafts, tanks, and field artillery that allows guests to come face to face with real equipment used during combat.

The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum is free and open to the public Tuesday- Saturday 9 am to 4 pm. There are multiple ways to support the efforts of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum. The Museum is currently accepting artifact donations from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. These objects, including equipment, documents, and photographs should provide documentary support of the military service of Mississippians and those who trained at Camp Shelby specifically. Additionally, monetary donations are welcome and go a long way towards helping the Museum honor Mississippi’s veterans.  To inquire about donating an artifact and more general information about the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum please visit their website https://armedforcesmuseum.us. ​