Memories of World War II
Sunday, November 12, 2016 – Sunday, March 26, 2017
Weston Historical Society
Memories of World War II – an exhibition celebrating our town’s contributions to the war. Here we bring together a wide range of artifacts, photographs, armaments, vehicles and memories of that War, many of them from fellow Weston residents and their families. In 1940, the Town of Weston was a small rural community of about 1,053 people. When war was declared Weston’s citizens responded. During the war 155 men and women left our town to join the services, becoming fighter pilots, rifle marksmen, bomber and transfer pilots, administrators, and radio operators in every branch of the military.Many others went to work locally supporting the war, while almost all families bought bonds, raised food, collected scrap, mended clothes, and wrote letters to loved ones and friends to add to the war effort.
Memories of World War II - Patriots and Their Stories
Included in the exhibit are the powerful prints by Weston artist Doug Leigh, depicting his experiences in the Battle of the Bulge as young staff sergeant, plus photos of war materiel representing land, air, and sea forces, and actual uniforms worn by our GI’s.
The exhibition displays a wide range of personal memorabilia that ties Weston residents, past and present, directly to the conflict. Such as: Family photos of relatives and friends directly and indirectly linked to current residents; Ribbons and medals, including two purple hearts; Condolence letters to the parents of a soldier killed in France from Secretary of War Henry Stimson, John D. Rockefeller and President Franklin Roosevelt; Rifles and weaponry from both European and Pacific Theaters. The Weston Historical Society is grateful for local businessman and World War II enthusiast Andy Knapp for loaning several large military artifacts: 50 Caliber Machine Gun, S. Army Jeep, S. Military Motor-cycle with sidecar.
The Weston Historical Society would like to thank our sponsors: Fairfield County Bank, GaraveL Auto Group, Cohen and Wolf P.C., KMS Partners, Weston Education Foundation, and Friends of the Weston Library.