Wednesday, June 17, 2021
Abundant Sunshine, Temperature 91 Degrees
US Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum
We’re going back a couple of days to our time in Fayetteville, NC. Remember I said we had found two special places we wanted to investigate? The one, which I shared several days ago, was the NC Veterans Park.
The other museum was right across the parking lot from it.
This museum is immense. Their website suggests that you allow two to three hours to visit it. Trust me, if you want to do it right you need to allow one to two days. Suffice to say, the best I can do in one or two blogs is just skim the highlights. Let’s get started.
The entrance walk to the museum is lined with large monument stones
representing many of the Airborne
and Special Operation Groups. A total of thirty three monuments line the walkway.
Standing tall in the center of the approach.
The museum opened its doors on August 16, 2000. For over twenty years it has told the story of those who fought valiantly to protect the liberty we cherish so much.
Entering the lobby.
On the one wall.
Time to enter the main Exhibit Gallery.
The Gallery is laid out in such a way that it transports you through time. The first exhibits highlights the the conception and formation in 1940 of the United States Parachute Test Platoon. One interesting note, the first paratroopers had no standard issue helmet. Instead, they borrowed helmets from the local football team!
Moving through numerous exhibits we come now to WW II.
There is so much more here at the museum but time and space does not permit me to cover it all. For me the museum was not just a walk through history. Rather I, for one, came away from the museum with a deep appreciation for all those who sacrificed so much in the past so that I can live the life I do today. So many went and so many never came home to wives, families, and friends. I owe them such a deep debt of gratitude for the freedoms that are mine today.
If you are ever in the Fayetteville area of NC I encourage you to take the time to visit the museum. It’s a visit you will never regret.
Another day has come to a close on The Road of Retirement. As a side note we went and visited several other RV parks today.
This will be our home when I am up here for treatment. It is only fifteen minutes from the treatment center on the outskirts of Jacksonville.
Meet Danielle who is in charge of reservations. Yes, this is the way she always dresses! She is the most friendly person you could ever meet.
This will probably be our site. It is satellite friendly, level and looks good.
Just a general view of one part of the park.
Time to get ready to roll tomorrow. Have a good night.
Thanks for taking the time to read our blog. We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Remember, take time to stop and smell the roses and live each day that God gives you to the fullest.
These are the voyages of Elvira and her two intrepid travelers. Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.
See you on down the road!
"On The Road of Retirement" 
That museum looks very impressive. My dad was in the Air Force during WWII. He taught himself how to fix radios, and somehow his job became fixing the radios on the airplanes. Fortunately, he came back home and married my mom – or I would not be writing this! But you are right, we do owe so much for our freedoms to those who sacrificed their lives – and to their families, too. I am glad there are museums like this; the history needs to be passed on. Just reading the quote from Hitler brings home the horror of the times. The new place looks nice! Enjoy your day!
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Glad you liked the museum. Hope some day you can visit it. Have a great day.
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Another place to put on our bucket list. Thanks for the tour and the history lesson. Glad you found a better camp site.
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