New exhibit at New York State Military Museum tells the story of the Korean and Vietnam Wars

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This watercolor by Marine Steve Jordan, from Balston Spam depicting compabt in Korea is part of a new exhibit at the New York State Military Museum.

SARATOGA SPRINGS , NY (11/28/2018) (readMedia)-- A new permanent exhibit at the New York State Military Museum highlights the history of the Cold War and the hot wars in Korea and Vietnam.

The exhibit employs pictures and artifacts to tell the story of New Yorkers in combat from 1950 to 1973, the Cold War here at home, and the civil strife in the United States that the Vietnam War caused.

Oral history videos are also part of the new exhibit.

The New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, housed in the historic Saratoga Springs Armory, highlights the military history of New York and New Yorkers.

Existing permanent exhibits relate the history of the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World Wars I and II and the New York Militia and National Guard in the 19th Century.

Artifacts used to illustrate the history of the Korean War, which began in 1950 and ended in 1953, include an M 1911A 1 .45 caliber pistol, the A-frame pack Korean porters used to transport supplies, water purification tablets, and a 155 artillery shell like those fired in combat by the New York Army National Guard's 955th Field Artillery Battalion.

The history of the Cold War section of the exhibit includes a Civil Defense sanitation kit provided to be used in bomb shelters, a radiation detector which would have been used after an atomic bomb attack and survival ration crackers.

To tell the story of the Vietnam War the museum exhibit will include U.S. military script that was used at the Post Exchange instead of cash, a Soldier's load-carrying equipment, a tropical combat coat, and a combat helmet.

Photographs and publications from the period will be used throughout the exhibit as well.

The New York State Military Museum is located at 61 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Admission to the museum, which is maintained by the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, is free.