Illinois State Military Museum Opens Doors, Minds for Springfield Students

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Chris Cliburn tells elementary students about the life of servicemembers during the World War I era during a living history day Nov. 10 in honor of Veterans Day.

• Don White tells elementary students about the life of servicemembers during the Vietnam era during a living history day Nov. 10 in honor of Veterans Day

SPRINGFIELD, IL (11/10/2010)(readMedia)-- The Illinois State Military Museum invited elementary school students from Springfield area schools to attend two living history days Nov. 10 and Nov. 12 in honor of Veterans Day at the Illinois State Military Museum.

The events feature volunteers dressed as servicemembers in period uniforms from the times of the Illinois militia to the present-day overseas operations, and include artifacts from those eras to teach students about military history.

Volunteers from the community, some Illinois veterans, donate their time and historical knowledge to talk to the elementary school students.

In addition to veterans, members of the community these support events so they can give back to the community and to future generations, said Lt. Col. Mark Whitlock of Springfield, the chief historian of the Illinois Army National Guard and the director of the museum.

"We have some great volunteers that come out and support our events and the museum, like our Veterans Day program," said Whitlock. "Many of these gentlemen have supported us since the museum first opened."

The volunteers provide their own historical artifacts to serve as visual aids as they teach the students about the lives of servicemembers in the different time periods. With no expense to the state, these volunteers provide a rich educational service to Springfield youth, said Whitlock.

"It's important for younger generations to know more than the fact Veterans Day is a day to be

out of school and to go shopping at the mall," said Whitlock. "Veterans Day is to thank, recognize and hopefully appreciate the service of our Veterans."

While text books are filled with words, Whitlock said the volunteers put their personality into the teaching and create a strong learning experience for the students.

"Instead of only reading about it, they're experiencing it," said Whitlock.

Schools, such as Dubois Elementary School, have attended the Veterans Day event for roughly nine years, said Cassie Burnet of Carbondale, a fifth-grade teacher with Dubois Elementary School. The event provides a deep historical look into Illinois military history.

"People have fought for us to keep us independent in this nation," said Payton Bealon, a Dubois Elementary fifth grader.

Bealon said it was interesting to learn from the living history volunteers and to see the uniforms and equipment of servicemembers throughout history.

"They have gone through a lot of life experience," said Bealon. "They're able to come here and teach us."

Whitlock said the museum typically holds these events the day before and after Veterans Day and Memorial Day. The museum is able to support school-requested events any time throughout the year.

The museum will be open to the general public on Veterans Day and encourages the community to attend and honor the memory of veterans past and present. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Thomas Lamont will tour the museum during his visit to Camp Lincoln in Springfield.