Vision class members tour the WWII-Pacific gallery

On a mission to learn about all aspects of Transylvania County, VISION Transylvania class members, in their nine-month program, tour businesses, governments, and non-profits. They get to know individual leaders, government officials, and volunteers of the county鈥檚 organizations.

Members of the 2023-2024 class toured the Veterans History 探花精选 on March 14, spending time in each of eight galleries with a knowledgeable pathfinder (docent), many of whom are veterans themselves.

Pathfinder and USAF veteran Jim Schenfield (far right)

Some “VISION-eers” tried on the uniforms from their choice of service branches and posed for pictures鈥攈onoring veterans of the Marines, Navy, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine.

About VISION

is a community leadership development program with the goals of promoting networking, teaching leadership styles, exploring local issues, enhancing critical thinking, and furthering economic development. The current class has 30 members. For information on joining next year鈥檚 class, please visit the or contact or contact Executive Director, Angela Owen at angela@truventure.com.

Supporting NC State 探花精选 Designation

After her tour, VISION class member Lindsay Skelton, Executive Director of Mountain Sun Community School, gave support to the museum by sending a letter to NC Senators Kevin Corbin and Bill Rabun. Her letter read: 鈥淚 am reaching out to offer my support for the 探花精选 located in Brevard, NC to be adopted as the North Carolina State Veterans History 探花精选.

鈥淯pon visiting yesterday as part of the VISION Transylvania leadership class, I was incredibly impressed by the scope of this amazing place, the knowledge of the docents and guides, and the number and variety of artifacts and items on display.听It was an immersive and interactive experience, and I plan to return as there was far too much to take in during one visit.鈥�

Skelton joins many other museum supporters in writing letters encouraging the NC Senate to pass House Bill 296, elevating the museum鈥檚 recognition statewide in North Carolina.

For information on how to help with this effort, please email: curator@theveteransmuseum.com

We鈥檒l Never Be Enemies Again

鈥淲e are now friends. We鈥檒l never be enemies again.鈥� These are the words of WWII fighter pilot Ed Cottrell after his recent visit to Germany to meet German fighter pilot Karl-Heinz Bosse. On Saturday, April 13, The 探花精选 held a well-attended event at Grace Brevard Church to celebrate this meeting. The story begins with Ed鈥檚 several trips over recent years to revisit the scenes and memories of his wartime service in Europe during which he flew 65 combat missions. While visiting Bastogne he met historian Paul Oechsner, who later put the two one-time fighter pilots in touch. Both pilots had flown in the . On December 17th, 1944, the second day of that prolonged battle, both flyers had taken off on missions.

Ed鈥檚 Mission

Ed鈥檚 squadron of P-47s was attacking German Tiger tanks. Pulling out of a bombing run, Ed鈥檚 squadron encountered a large group of German Messerschmitt 109 fighters and Ed鈥檚 plane was hit by 20mm cannon fire destroying 8 cylinders of its Pratt & Whitney engine, covering the cockpit with oil, and leaving the plane barely chugging along at 120 miles per hour, scarcely enough to prevent it from stalling and falling out of the sky. Two Messerschmitts roared past, turned, and came around behind him, leaving Ed waiting for the bullets, thinking of his wife Millie, whose photo he always carried, and saying his goodbye. But the two German planes pulled alongside and proceeded to escort him back to the Allied front lines, giving him the OK hand signal as they then peeled off. Why? Ed guesses they felt it unfair to attack a defenseless foe. Ed found his way back to the airfield with the engine finally quitting on approach to the runway, requiring him to make a dead stick landing.

Karl鈥檚 Mission

Meanwhile, Karl, who was in fact flying a Messerschmitt 109, was on a mission to attack allied planes. Karl, who is 3 years younger than Ed, was just 19 and this was only his fifth mission. Like Ed鈥檚, his plane was hit by enemy fire, but unlike Ed’s, could no longer fly. Karl was unable to bail out normally and had to turn his plane sideways, literally dumping him out successfully but badly damaging his leg in the process. On the ground he was taken prisoner by Allied forces and had a long healing. Today at 99 the leg has given out and he can no longer walk.

Meeting as Friends

Once Paul had connected the two pilots they visited over a Zoom call, talking about their lives and families. Then last December, 79 years after the shared day of their fateful missions, Ed made the trip to Germany so they could meet in person. While sharing their stories of that day, they visited the field where Karl’s plane had crashed. As Karl had not been away from his nursing home in five years, it was an extra special outing. And so days of war and enmity did yield to peace and a new friendship for two wise and long-lived warriors.

The Art of Valor

Following these presentations, Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof and Veterans History 探花精选 president David Morrow unveiled the Valor Studios print commemorating Ed Cottrell’s flight limping home escorted by two German M-109s (top photo). Valor Studios is based in Venice, Florida, and specializes in telling the story of wartime valor in original art. A signed copy of the print donated by O.P. Taylor鈥檚 was auctioned off to raise funds for the Veterans History 探花精选. During the silent auction, the good-sized crowd was treated to a generous and exquisite buffet.

A Very Special Question

During the Q&A after Ed鈥檚 talk one question, and his answer, were particularly striking. Ed was asked about how he shared his wartime stories with his wife and children. He responded that he did not. That neither he nor his wartime compatriots were inclined to talk about the war, preferring to forget it and move on. That began changing some 15 years ago at a squadron reunion as the talk turned to how younger folks increasingly did not know this important chapter, had lost sight of the greater purpose that bound the country, bringing forth sacrifice and compassion all those many years ago. Simply put, freedom isn’t free; we must pay the price to keep it. So, like many surviving WWII veterans, Ed has dedicated himself to talking with younger generations whenever asked, because he thinks it is important. And it is. Michelle Taylor attended the museum鈥檚 event with her sons Charlie and David and commented: 鈥淲e are so lucky and honored here to have this resource for our sons. They can hear history from people like Ed Cottrell who made that history. I want my sons to know these things.鈥� And Ed, well, he will soon be off to Europe to participate in celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, and no doubt return with more stories to tell.

Artifacts

In our galleries, every artifact, photograph, and exhibit tells a story of battles fought, sacrifices made, relationships forged.

Speakers

Through our Speakers Series, audiences learn the lessons of history through the compelling stories of notable authors on topics ranging from Pearl Harbor to the War on Terror.

Programs

In Coffee & Conversations, veterans enjoy camaraderie as they discuss their experiences and emotions in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Programs for the community offer unforgettable face-to-face opportunities for adults and children to meet and hear the stories of American heroes.

Newsletters, Tours, & Conversations

Weekly newsletters chronicle veterans鈥� experiences offering us a chance to see the world through their eyes. During informative gallery tours, our knowledgeable docents (we call them Pathfinders) lead visitors on a journey through history. And, after touring the galleries, guests often enjoy chatting with museum volunteers as they swap stories and share their anecdotes.

At the museum, every artifact has a story to tell.

听We Need You!

The Veterans History 探花精选 operates entirely through volunteer labor. In 2022, volunteers contributed nearly 3,000 hours of their time. With an all-volunteer staff, 100% of your donation funds essential museum expenses and outreach programs. Your contribution honors America鈥檚 veterans and helps keep our doors open!

During this season of giving, please remember the Veterans History 探花精选. Join us in preserving their stories!

Historians and Heroes – D-Day veteran George Sarros was one of three WWII veterans to tell their personal stories.

Historians and Heroes. Eight decades faded away as another time and place touched us all. The 探花精选 opened a window to the past, taking us on a 鈥淲alk Through History鈥� led first by those who know it as history and then others who know it as hours and days they lived and survived.

Three Notable WWII Historians

On the first day of our flawlessly organized journey we were joined by not one, or two, but three notable WWII historians: , , and . They have lectured extensively on WWII and published numerous articles as well as nearly 20 books between them, several best sellers included. And all just happen to be riveting speakers, both knowledgeable and lively. Each took on a big topic for their talk: the first hours of Normandy, the Doolittle raid over Tokyo, and the Battle of the Bulge. Inside those large events all three speakers came to the same core message: it was acts of individual courage that carried the day as young soldiers, many barely out of high school, faced terror and devastating harm.