The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 21, May 27, 2007, Article 13

TINY PENNSYLVANIA MUSEUM DISPLAYS HOMETOWN MAN'S MEDAL OF HONOR

Our many readers who enjoy military history and numismatics may
be interested to learn about the Eldred World War II Museum, which
opened in 1996 in that isolated northwestern Pennsylvania town
(population 850) whose biggest claim to fame is being the home
of the Zippo lighter.

"'I like to tell visitors we have a world-class museum in a town
of 850 people,' Tennies says. 'When people come here, they don't
come by accident. You just don't happen to get here. This museum
is a treasure off the beaten path.'

"Inside the museum is an exhibit of original artwork featuring
cartoons of Pulitzer Prize winner Bill Mauldin, who chronicled the
lives of ordinary GIs with the characters Willie and Joe. There
also are exhibits commemorating World War II battles, an 8,000-
volume library and rare artifacts.

"Eldred was the site of a munitions factory during the war...
Tennies says Eldred was selected as the site for the factory because
the National Powder Co. already was manufacturing explosives in
McKean for the oil industry. Because Eldred was off the beaten path
and near a railroad line, the town became the perfect spot to make
explosives for the military, Tennies says.

"Tennies gives tours of the museum and loves explaining the history
depicted in the exhibits. His favorite exhibit relates to Mitchell
Paige, a lanky kid from Charleroi who went on to win the Medal of
Honor on Guadalcanal. The museum has Paige's medal, his Marine dress
white uniform and other memorabilia Paige collected from Guadalcanal
after the battle was over."

[The Medal of Honor display is the only numismatic content in the
article, but I encourage readers to follow the link and read the
rest of Paige's remarkable story. -Editor]

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

[Another story, published Thursday by the Kansas City Kansan tells
the story of William Patrick Hogarty, who was awarded the Congressional
Medal of Honor for 'distinguished gallantry in actions' at both
Antietam and Fredericksburg.

"It was a rare accomplishment: only 1,527 soldiers received the medal
for fighting in the Civil War. Since that conflict, the medal has been
awarded even less frequently. Only about 3,400 medals total have been
awarded, including just 238 in the Vietnam War, which lasted much
longer than the Civil War."

The article doesn't seem to mention what became of Hogarty's medal,
but the story of his experience in the war is remarkable. -Editor]

To read the complete article, see: Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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