WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL SHRINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY INC

SEVERAL PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED DURING FY2025 INDIANA'S 40-8 MERCI BOX CAR WAS REDEDICATED IN JUNE 2024. THE BOXCAR WAS MEDIA BLASTED AND REPAINTED DURING THE SUMMER OF 2022. ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE AND DISPLAYS WERE CREATED AND ARE PROMINENTLY PLACED IN THE "BOX CAR ANNEX." THE SHIELDS AND RIBBONS WERE MOUNTED TO THE BOXCAR PRIOR TO THE REDEDICATION IN JUNE 2024. THE GOLD STAR FAMILY MEMORIAL WAS DEDICATED IN JUNE 2024. THIS MEMORIAL FEATURES WOODY WILLIAM'S TRADEMARK DESIGN ON ONE SIDE AND THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE MEMORIAL HAS IMAGES SPECIFIC TO INDIANA. THE WALK PATH OF WAR HISTORY WAS ALSO DEDICATED IN JUNE 2024. THIS WALK PATH (OVER 900 FEET OF SIX-FOOT SIDEWALKS) MEANDERS THROUGH OUR GROUNDS AND PROVIDES VISITORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THEIR TIME WHILE THEY VIEW OUR VARIOUS MEMORIALS. ACCESS TO ALL OF THE CURRENT MEMORIALS IS EASIER FOR OLDER ADULTS AND VISITORS WITH MOBILITY ISSUES WITH THIS WALK PATH. IN OCTOBER 2024, WE DEDICATED THE MOTHER GEORGE MEMORIAL. MOTHER GEORGE WAS FROM FORT WAYNE. THIS LINK PROVIDES SOME INFORMATION REGARDING MOTHER GEORGE - HTTPS://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/ELIZA_GEORGE. NICK TAYLOR'S MEMORIAL BENCH WAS DEDICATED IN NOVEMBER 2024. NICK MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE WHILE SERVING OUR NATION IN AFGHANISTAN ON JULY 16, 2012. THE GRAND OPENING OF THE STERLING CHAPEL WAS IN NOVEMBER 2024. THE STERLING CHAPEL IS A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO OUR PROPERTY AND PROVIDES A SERENE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO REFLECT AS THEY VISIT. REPAIRS TO THE PAVILION TO MAKE THE BUILDING WEATHER TIGHT WERE COMPLETED IN FY25. WE HAVE A GUEST BOOK THAT VISITORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SIGN LOCATED INSIDE THE MUSEUM GALLERY. DATA FROM THE GUESTBOOK INDICATES THE FOLLOWING NUMBER OF DOCUMENTED VISITORS (CALENDAR YEARS 2019 - 930, 2020 - 800 (YEAR OF COVID), 2021 - 3,387, 2022 - 2,596, 2023 - 3,126, 2024 - 3,729). IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT NOT ALL VISITORS SIGN THE GUEST BOOK. THE DATA ALSO DOES NOT CAPTURE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO WALK THE GROUNDS AND LOOK AT THE MEMORIALS DURING OFF-HOURS. THE GROUNDS ARE OPEN DAWN TO DUSK AND THE MUSEUM'S HOURS ARE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE HONORINGFOREVER.ORG AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. CURRENT MEMORIALS/MONUMENTS/MACRO ARTIFACTS LOCATED ON OUR 40-ACRE PROPERTY INCLUDE: AN 80% REPLICA OF THE VIETNAM WALL, THE ROCK OF THE MARNE DIVISION, 7TH ARMORED DIVISION, KOREAN WAR PATROL MEMORIAL, REVOLUTIONARY WAR, IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN, PURPLE HEART MEMORIAL, CIVIL WAR MEMORIAL, SULTANA MEMORIAL, MOTHER GEORGE MEMORIAL, CIVIL WAR CENOTAPH AREA, VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL, GOLD STAR FAMILY MEMORIAL, WATCHTOWER, INDIANA'S MERCI BOX CAR, TWO ARTILLERY PIECES, TWO NAVY ANCHORS, A M-247 SGT. YORK TANK, A WATER BUFFALO, AND SEVERAL BENCHES SPONSORED BY VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND FAMILIES. THE W. PAUL WOLF WAR HISTORY MUSEUM, (6,000 SQ FT) HAS OVER 3,000 MILITARY ARTIFACTS IN INVENTORY. THE DISPLAYS RANGE FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR THROUGH CURRENT CONFLICTS WITH REPRESENTATION FROM ALL THE BRANCHES OF SERVICE. PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DONATE ARTIFACTS FROM FAMILY MEMBERS TO THE MUSEUM SO THAT THOSE PIECES OF HISTORY ARE NOT LOST. FUTURE PLANS: -MAY 2025 DEDICATION OF WWII MEMORIAL -MAY 2025 DEDICATION OF POW/MIA BENCH -JUNE 2025 DEDICATION OF FIRST PHASE OF COLUMBARIUM (SECOND AND THIRD PHASE ONSITE BY 2026 -AUGUST 2025 DEDICATION OF WWII ARMY RANGER MEMORIAL -AUGUST 2025 DEDICATION OF DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM MEMORIAL -AUGUST 2025 REDEDICATION OF PURPLE HEART MEMORIAL -SEPTEMBER 2025 DEDICATION OF GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM, OEF/OIF MEMORIAL -NOVEMBER 2025 DEDICATION OF WWI MEMORIAL -COMING IN 2026 DEDICATION OF WOMEN'S MILITARY MEMORIAL WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SPONSORING ADDITIONAL MEMORIALS AND BENCHES. LEGACY BRICKS (IN HONOR OF/IN MEMORY OF SOMEONE) ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. ANY FUTURE BRICKS SOLD WILL BE PLACED ON BRICK COLUMNS LOCATED STRATEGICALLY ALONG THE WALK PATH OF HISTORY. EDUCATION - WE CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY RECRUIT GROUPS (E.G., STUDENTS, VETERANS, SENIORS, SCOUTS, BIKE/CAR GROUPS, ETC.) TO TOUR THE MUSEUM AND GROUNDS. WE DO NOT RECEIVE ANY OVERSIGHT FROM COUNTY/STATE/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE OPERATE THROUGH DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESSES. WE ARE AN ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION EXCEPT FOR A PART-TIME CURATOR BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 15, 2022. THIS SALARY WAS PAID THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE JAMES FOUNDATION FOR FY25. WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT GIVEN BY OUR MONETARY DONORS, OUR IN-KIND DONORS AND OUR LABOR VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE PLAYED SUCH A VITAL ROLE IN CREATING AND MAINTAINING THESE BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS, MEMORIALS AND BUILDINGS.