A grand opening for the Never Forgotten Museum, a new veterans museum in Patterson’s Eagle Station, was held Thursday evening, March 20.
Approximately 160 people attended the ribbon cutting, 25 of them local veterans, many of whom contributed personal effects or other memorabilia to the many displays.
Creation of the museum was spearheaded by Patterson High School alumnus Frances Thomas Wilbers. Wilbers personally cut the blue ribbon to mark the official opening of what had once begun as a high school project.
Wilbers’s expansive collection goes back to her own father’s love of history and her days at Patterson High School.
As a young girl, Wilbers accompanied her father on many trips to historical sites. “I was an only child and he was passionate about history, so he took me to a lot of museums, forts and parks.” She also heard many tales of the trials her uncle Clyde Thomas had endured as a prisoner of war and survivor of the Bataan Death March.
In high school, her teacher Stanley Tuten proposed a special contest for which Wilbers was uniquely well suited. Whoever created the best historical scrap book did not have to take the final exam. Wilbers was determined that hers would win.
The idea to feature veterans was inspired by a series of articles then being published by the Atlanta Journal Constitution at that time. That inspiration was the basis for Wilber’s research project. Victorious, Wilbers sat out the final and her scrapbook, which is housed in the new museum’s collection, became the seed from which the Never Forgotten Museum at Eagle Station grew.
Launched with pieces from Wilbers’s private collection, the museum showcases artifacts and memorabilia from and about local veterans, covering all the many conflicts America’s armed forces have participated in.
Wars covered include the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Indian Wars, the Mexican-American War, both sides of the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm/Desert Shield and the Global War on Terror.
Artifacts and displays include Native American axe heads and knives dating from 1600, a pistol from the Indian Wars, a sword from the Civil War and a gas mask from World War I among other items. Uniforms, flags, model ships and an extensive variety of historical books are also on site. In one room, artwork by students at Patterson Elementary honoring the U.S. Armed Forces is on display.
Originally intended to debut in Lake Park, various complications with the property rights to the proposed location kept Wilbers’s vision from taking form there.
“After that, VSU wanted my collection, but I said, no, I’ll just take it back home,” Wilbers said.
The Patterson community and the city government were both eager to support to the project. Also, Piggly Wiggly of Blackshear and Eagle Nutrition of Patterson both came together to provide the refreshments for the ribbon cutting. Representatives of Eagle Station expressed sincere thanks to all the many people that helped make Never Forgotten a reality.
“I’ve been amazed by people’s warmth and acceptance and all their help, especially Mayor Dedi Thomas and so many other people, too many to name,” said Wilbers. The museum’s founder recalls how one veteran of Korea living not far from Eagle Station suddenly turned up one day with some pieces to contribute, one of many veterans with stories to tell.
“I wanted it to really be about the veterans and their sacrifices,” said Wilbers. “How they have paid the price for our freedom, and seeing them enjoy the museum now makes it all worth it.”
The museum’s goal is to ensure the contributions of local veterans are “never forgotten.” To guarantee as complete a record as possible of those who served, the museum requests all Pierce County veterans provide a photo of themselves with a description of service, so they can be honored by the Never Forgotten Museum for their service to the country.
Photos and information can be dropped off at the museum at Eagle Station on Williams Street in Patterson. Donations for the upkeep and improvement of the museum are also accepted. Never Forgotten is part of a 501c3 nonprofit encompassing Eagle Station, the museum, the Patterson Historic Commission and local gallery.
Until regular scheduled hours can be established, access to the Never Forgotten museum will be coordinated through a sign-in at Patterson city hall.
