- This event has passed.
Working Warriors: Military Life Beyond Combat
August 1, 2017 @ 10:00 am - August 26, 2017 @ 4:00 pm
Waging a war against ill-fitting fatigues, Renato “Bart” Bartoli works on an alteration as L.D. Buck admires his freshly tailored shirt. While tailoring might seem frivolous, alterations added comfort and functionality to mass produced uniforms.
About 75% of military work is considered non-combat. Civilians might imagine military life unfolds like an action film, but what is everyday life really like? It might surprise you to learn that most military members work in jobs not so different from your own. For every fighter pilot, there are thousands of supply clerks, administrative assistants, mechanics, and doctors who serve the United States. These roles rarely make the headlines, but are vital to every military operation. Exploring the non-combat roles of military service personnel, including work as beauticians, military police, dentists, mechanics, and photographers, this exhibit showcases an often overlooked but highly relatable side of military life. These jobs are so vital that the military would stop functioning without these service men and women.
To enhance the experience we are presenting the Wisconsin Veteran Museum traveling trunk for the WWII: European Theater, until Aug. 18. The trunk contains uniforms, artifacts, multi-media, and activities that illustrate the Wisconsin soldier’s experience. You can try on the uniforms, handle the artifacts, and interact with the exhibit.
Serving as a woman during World War II was not all glamour. Here, members of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve pose for a publicity shot which was used to encourage other women to join. These women however, served as air traffic controllers, administrators, telephone operators, and cryptologists so the men who previously worked in those positions could move to the front lines.
The overall experience including the 16 panel display of Working Warriors, the WWII:European Traveling Trunk, and our own local military history display are presented in honor of our soldiers and their sacrifice for our freedom. The exhibit encourages our visitors to consider how our world wars shaped our perceptions, work, and life-style throughout history
