Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum is proud to be collecting summer clothing and interview clothing for the community of veterans experiencing homelessness served by Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship & Veterans Home.
Suggested clothing of interest includes pants, shorts, T-shirts, light jackets, shoes, unused socks and underclothes. Unopened toiletries will also be collected.
Collections will be accepted through the summer months, Monday – Friday 8am – 3pm Please note that masks are encouraged to be worn covering your mouth and nose while inside the building if you are vaccinated, and masks are required to be worn by those not fully vaccinated.
“Gettysburg’s Treasures”
How do artifacts from the Battle of Gettysburg teach us about this important Civil War engagement? In this live class, Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum will help us uncover the amazing stories that their Civil War collection tells. We will also play a game of “What would you do?” as we put ourselves in the place of those battlefield leaders who faced difficult decisions July 1-3, 1863.
Spotlight On: Treasures from Gettysburg
July 8, 2021 7PM – Virtual Event
Join us on Facebook or YouTube
July 1st through July 3rd marks the anniversary of one of the most significant events in American history, the Battle of Gettysburg. This presentation will examine artifacts from our collection that tell amazing stories about this important Civil War engagement. Curator Michael Kraus will discuss noteworthy discoveries about Gettysburg artifacts in our museum’s collection and examine the impact they contribute to the historical interpretation of the battle. Join us to learn about the “Tales the Artifacts Tell”.
Michael Kraus
A well-known Civil War historian, Kraus currently works as Curator/Historian for Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. His accomplishments include several historical consultant credits for major films, writing and narrating the documentary series Civil War Minutes and Civil War Life as well as authoring articles and books regarding the conflict. Michael also is an accomplished sculptor with an impressive resume of historically themed works in bronze.
Soldiers & Sailors’ weeklong Summer Camp program alternates each year between Civil War and World War II themes. There are full-day (9AM-3PM) and half-day (9AM-12PM) options available. Lunch is provided for both options and an afternoon snack is provided for the full-day option. The camps are intended for students entering 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade. Tuition for the camp is $200 for the full-day option and $100 for the half-day option.
Students will engage in a variety of activities which will include, but are not limited to:
• Interaction with re-enactors, veterans and special guests.
• Hands-on experience with artifacts and reproductions from the museum’s collection.
• Tour of the museum’s extensive exhibits.
• Daily sampling of foods from the era.
• Listening to and singing songs from the era.
• Reading interesting stories, articles and working with Primary Sources.
• Arts and crafts activities
Spotlight On: The Purple Heart
August 12, 2021 7PM – Virtual Event
Join us on Facebook or YouTube
The Purple Heart is one of the most well-known military decorations. Established shorty after World War I, the medal is awarded to those who are wounded or killed in action against an enemy while serving in the United States military. Learn the history of the Purple Heart and hear stories from Curator Michael Kraus about individual recipients included in our collection. Also joining the program will be First Lieutenant (Ret.) Dan Telep who served in United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and received of two Purple Hearts. August 7th is Purple Heart day, so please join us a couple days after in the evening of August 12th to honor those who sacrificed for our country.
First Lieutenant (Ret.) Dan Telep
Dan was born and raised in Detroit and graduated from Wayne State Univ. in December 1966. Having previously spent two summers in Quantico, VA with the USMC in their Officers’ Candidate School, upon graduation, Dan was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and returned to Quantico for Leadership Training until June 1967.
Deployed as an Infantry Officer to Vietnam, he arrived in country in late June 1967. There he was assigned a Rifle Platoon in the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division in Northern ‘l Corps” at the D.M.Z. Immediately upon arrival, his unit was engaged in a fierce 10-day battle with the 324th Division of the North Vietnam Army. This first engagement of his newly deployed unit, called “Operation Buffalo”, included the grizzly first assignment of evacuating 85 recently killed brave Marines. Their sacrifices, their deaths, this memory first hand, cemented his dedication to the celebration we now call “Memorial Day”.
Having extended his tour, Dan spent a total of 19 months in Vietnam and received two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star Award with Combat V, and two crosses of Gallantry. He finished his tour of duty at Camp LeJeune in NC, returning to Detroit to obtain his M.B.A. with a plan to pursue a career in Marketing Discipline. Dan now lives in Sewickley has been married to Kitty Fay Telep for 48 years, has four children and enjoys 7 grandchildren.
Michael Kraus
A well-known Civil War historian, Kraus currently works as Curator/Historian for Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. His accomplishments include several historical consultant credits for major films, writing and narrating the documentary series Civil War Minutes and Civil War Life as well as authoring articles and books regarding the conflict. Michael also is an accomplished sculptor with an impressive resume of historically themed works in bronze.
Memorial Service:
Code Gomberg
July 5, 1922-April 11, 2021
A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 1pm at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum to remember and honor Code’s life.
“The Purple Heart”
The Purple Heart is one of the best-known military decorations. Established shortly after World War I, the medal is awarded to those who are wounded or killed in action against an enemy while serving in the United States military. In this interactive class, we’ll learn all about the history of the Purple Heart and hear stories from the Soldiers & Sailors collection about individual recipients. We’ll also play a game of “Fact or fiction?” that will test your knowledge of this award.
Twenty years ago, on September 11, 2001, the United States came under attack.
In response, 181,510 Americans enlisted for active duty service, and 72,908 joined
the reserves in the year following Sept. 11.
Out of that fateful day emerged a new generation of Americans ready and prepared to
serve and defend their country and their fellow Americans, no matter the risk. Many paid
the ultimate price to help ensure such a horrific attack on the United States never
happens again.
The mission of Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum is to serve as a lasting tribute
to those men and women who unselfishly gave of themselves in service to their country.
This somber 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Soldiers & Sailors will
recognize those service members with an installation of 7,053 dog tags suspended
between the light posts across the walkway leading to the building for visitors to
pass under. Each dog tag represents an individual life lost in the conflicts since
September 11, 2001. Included are 300 special flag dog tags specifically representing each
individual service member from Pennsylvania.
To formally observe the solemn occasion “Taps” will be sounded at dusk on
September 11, 2021.
The building will be closed at this time.
The open-air memorial is free to visit and open 24 hours a day through September 30th.
Witness chivalry in the making as 3 WWII Veterans are to be formally presented France’s Highest Honor, the Legion d’honneur, on September 2nd, 2021, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, beginning at 1PM. This extraordinary event is open to the public yet seating is limited. French Consul General, François Penguilly, of the French Embassy and Consulate in Washington D.C., will be decorating these fine men within the beautiful and spacious Auditorium within the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall.
The Honored Veterans are:
Wally King – 1st Lt. Wallace N. King earned 4 Campaign Stars serving as a Fighter Pilot flying a P-47 Thunderbolt. In September of 1944, 1st Lt. King arrived in France trained as a P-51 Pilot, flew one orientation flight in the P-47, then spent the rest of his war flying “The Jug”. Employing the P-47 in the ground support role, as a pilot in the 513th Fighter Squadron, 406th Fighter Group, the group’s objective was to provide soldiers on the ground a rapid strike capability from the air. The squadron concentrated on bombing and strafing enemy troop concentrations, armored vehicles, fixed and mobile gun emplacements, and rail-head marshaling yards. On his 75th mission, on the 18th of April of 1945, Lt. King was shot down by enemy anti aircraft artillery and briefly fell into captivity. Mr. King is 97.
Guy Prestia – Following basic training, Sergeant Guy Prestia was assigned to Company E of the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, in May of 1943. In combat Guy carried the Browning automatic rifle that weighed in at nearly 21 pounds. After first arriving in North Africa in 1943, he fought throughout the Italian Campaigns landing in Sicily, then Salerno, Anzio, Rome, the invasion of Southern France, the French eastern frontier and into the heart of Germany. The 45th Infantry Division spent an incredible 511 days in combat. At the end of the war, Guy took part in the liberation of the Dachau Concentration Camp outside of Munich Germany. Mr. Prestia is 99.
Fran Turner – Major Francis C. Turner entered the service as an enlisted man prior to America entering WWII. Following America’s entry, Corporal Turner entered and then completed Officers Candidate School in August of 1942. Assigned to D Company of the 17th Armored Engineers Battalion, Lt. Turner took part in the landing at Rabat Morocco then advanced into Algeria in 1943. After the African campaign concluded, Lt. Turner arrived in Tidworth England to prepare for the Invasion of Normandy. The task of the battalion was to sweep for mines ahead of the infantry and establish a clear a path for armored vehicles, all under fire. Once in France, he was assigned to Company A of the 17th Armored Engineers Battalion, 2nd Armored Division, where he participated in combat operations during the Normandy Invasion and throughout Northern France. As the war progressed, Lt. Turner entered Belgium, Holland, took part in the Ardennes Offensive also known as the Battle of the Bulge, and then crossed the Rhine River at Wessel Germany. Lt. Turner was awarded the Silver Star for ‘Extraordinary Heroism’ and a Bronze Star for Valor. Following his service in WWII, Lt. Turner joined the U.S. Army Reserves and retired as a Major in 1979; serving his country for 38 years. Mr. Turner is 102.
In addition to an address by the Consul General and the veterans being decorated, the ceremony will also feature remarks by Madame Françoise Crozet, who will convey the love and respect that the citizens of France have for their liberators, and then, an address from Brigadier General (Retired) David Papak, USMC, highlighting the ongoing mission of our Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
September 2nd, 1945… As we reflect upon this medal ceremony in 2021, we must remember that 76 years ago to this very day, that on the deck of the USS Missouri, in 1945, the final surrender ending World War Two took place. What better way to celebrate Liberty and Freedom then to honor 3 gallant men who did their part in securing those most sought after ideals…
Admission is free.
Spotlight On: The Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
September 9, 2021 7PM – Virtual Event
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This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located in Arlington National Cemetery. This program will examine the origins, history and true meaning of the Tomb. Also highlighted will be the Society of the Honor Guard, a non-profit organization created by Tomb Guards, who are committed to protecting and enhancing the welfare and image of the Tomb. This month’s special guest will be retired Tomb Guard Dennis J. McMahon III, Badge #320, Frist Sergeant, US Army (Ret). Please join us as we learn about and pay tribute to one hundred years of sacrifice.
BIO:
Dennis J. McMahon III
Badge #320
First Sergeant, US Army (Ret)
Dennis J. McMahon III was born in Syracuse, New York and raised in Moon TWP, PA. He enlisted in the Army in April 1984 as an 11B, Infantryman and attended Basic and AIT at Fort Benning, Georgia.
McMahon’s first assignment was with the Old Guard, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, Fort Myer, VA. He served with the First Presidential Marching platoon performing ceremonies at the White House and throughout the Capitol region, including the 1985 Presidential Inauguration Parade. He then volunteered and was selected to be a Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in Arlington National Cemetery. Following his 18-month assignment to the Tomb, 1SG McMahon earned the Tomb Guard Identification badge (badge # 320). This badge is the second least awarded badge in the military, following the Army Astronaut Badge.
In 1988, he reclassified as a 97B, Counterintelligence (CI) Special Agent. His multiple worldwide assignments were from Germany, to Saudi Arabia, Japan, Korea and multiple state-side assignments. Dennis retired in September 2004 as a First Sergeant.
McMahon’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Award, the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Army Superior Award (with numeral 2), the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal (with star), Korean Defense Service Medal, South West Asia Service Medal (w/3 bronze stars), the Saudi Arabia/Kuwait Liberation Medals, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. McMahon has been awarded the following badges: Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Identification Badge (#320), Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the German Schutzensnier (Bronze award). He has also been inducted in the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club and is a recipient of the Military Intelligence Corps Knowlton Award.
He has been married to Lisa (Smith) McMahon since 1984 and they have 3 boys: Connor (27), Austin (24) and Evan (23).
Dennis currently works for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in Boyers, PA as a Senior Personnel Security Specialist and they make their home in Coraopolis, PA.