About Us
Vietnam Wall Re-opens
In addition to the Vietnam Wall restoration, November 9th was a special day of recognition and renewal.
We dedicated the Mary Penrose Wayne Sterling Chapel with prayer and reverence on November 9. It was also a day of honor as one of our major supporters, W. Paul Wolf, was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash.
Among these who have received Sagamores have been astronauts, presidents, ambassadors, artists, musicians, politicians, and ordinary citizens who have contributed greatly to our Hoosier heritage.
Gold Star Day
A gathering of families highlighted the June 22, 2024 dedication of a new Woody Williams Foundation Gold Star Family Memorial Monument at the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The forever commitment of the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum to be a place “Where no veteran is every forgotten” stands strong.
Photo L-R: Mark Harris CEO/President Woody Williams Foundation USMC (Ret) and Dave and Lory Grames, Gold Star Parents and Committee Members
Merci Box Car 75th Anniversary
We are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the French government gifting of 49 WWI Box Cars to each state in the country. Indiana received their train car filled with cultural gifts including art, furniture, jewelry, fashions and many more precious items from the people of France and Italy. It was their way of thanking the United States for helping defeat Nazi Germany in WWII.
We have recently completed a full restoration of Indiana's box car which can be seen at our site in Fort Wayne, Indiana. All 48 states received a box car with the 49th car being shared by Hawaii and Washington D.C. It was eventually allowed to stay under the palm trees.
Volunteers Called to Serve
Thanks to the volunteers joining us on a daily basis we can double our efforts to care for and cherish these 40 acres...and forever remember every veteran.
Join us every Volunteer Wednesday at 10 am for whatever time you can share and help us preserve a legacy of honor and respect. Contact Bonnie Davis: 260-466-7372.
Legacy Brick Sales Continue
While we have completed this phase of new our chapel, you can order a Legacy Brick and we offer different choices for placement on the grounds. Each 4" x 8" brick is $125 and you choose from a variety of engraving. Available at this link.
Museum Updates
by Robert Thomas
With the completion of the W. Paul Wolf War History Museum, our campus is prepared to inspire and educate our visitors.
• Three times larger display area
• Disability Friendly
• Twice the number of artifacts on display
• Paul's Cafe
• The PX Shop
• Rest & Relaxation Picnic Area
All of the original exhibits have been moved into the new museum and expanded with new artifacts, maps, photos, paintings, uniformed mannequins, and the history of the wars/conflicts.
A new group of exhibits will feature Weapons of War; Women in the Service when they were a sub-branch of the services; Organizations that have helped the military services; Items of Honor left at our Memorials on the grounds; and American Heroes that features military personnel and units that honor and served the United States.
The previous museum has been refined with two new features. The entrance room has become the Medal of Honor Research Library to honor the recipients of our nation’s highest award. It will feature a section of biographies and autobiographies.
Other sections will include yearbooks from training to service time in war and peace. In addition, documented histories of our nation’s wars, including the colonial wars before the American Revolution, will be available for research.
This growth opens more ways to display our expanding military equipment collection and feature larger weapons along with our extensive collection of uniforms and personal items.
The retired main museum room is now dedicated to events and gatherings.
It is available for rental as well, 260-267-5072
