OSWEGO, NY – In commemoration of the 67th anniversary of D-Day, the H. Lee White Marine Museum is hosting a special event on June 4 beginning at 1 p.m.
The museum is located at the end of the West First Street Pier.
The event will be multifaceted, centering around an unveiling of the new indoor exhibit focusing on the history and significance of the National Historic Landmark Tug , LT-5, during World War II and afterwards. The vessel is proudly berthed on the west pier by the Museum, in Oswego’s Historic Maritime District.
“D-Day actually took place on June 6, 1944. We are proud of our local connection through our area veterans that served during the war and this historic vessel, which was built specifically to serve in WWII. Although its mission was as a supply ship, the LT-5 gunners shot down an enemy plane during the invasion. The WWII living history element is something we have not done before. The re-enactors will be available all weekend for questions and to interact with the visitors,” said Mercedes Niess, executive director of the H. Lee White Marine Museum.
Lance Knapp, captain of the LT-5, will give a presentation.
The Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting during the ceremony.
The H. Lee White Marine Museum division of the Sea Scouts will attend as the color guard.
“This is the first permanent exhibit about the LT-5 the museum has had in addition to the vessel itself. We hope it will educate the public as to the rarity of this special ship and its role in our history,” said Knapp.
The World War II re-enactor unit is based in Central New York, and portrays the ‘A’ Company, 5th Ranger Battalion during their service in Europe from 1944-45. The members of the unit will gather at the H. Lee White Marine Museum. They plan to interpret the unfolding of events of this brave military unit on the days immediately following the D-Day invasion.
“During the intense fighting in the shore towns on the Normandy coast, troops needed to travel, sometimes miles, back to the invasion beaches to gather supplies. Boats and ships of all kinds, Navy, Coast Guard, and Army, were used to carry ammunition, food, and supplies to shore. Our interpretation for the D-Day commemoration at the museum will be just that: Rangers who have been fighting between the Pointe du Hoc and Vierville sur Mer areas in Normandy who have returned to Omaha Beach for supplies being brought ashore. We will be setting up a supply point with a vast array of material, crates, invasion equipment, etc. and will be interacting with the public throughout the day, telling the story of the 5th Ranger Battalion at Normandy in World War II,” noted Tom Frost, a member of the 5th Ranger Battalion Re-enactor’s Group.
The museum will be open free of charge both Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to donate to the preservation of the LT-5.
For more information, call 315-342-0480. Also visit www.hleewhitemarinemuseum.com and http://www.facebook.com/pages/H-Lee-White-Marine-Museum
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