Education at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

Honoring the B-24 "Fightin' Sam" Our NEWEST T-shirt is now available! Order one for you and another as a holiday gift today. https://shop.mightyeighth.org/fightin-sam-t-shirt/... 389th Bomb Group Nose art of B-24 Liberator "Fightin' Sam"

Remembrance: History of the Red Poppy How did the poppy come to symbolize the sacrifices of World War I soldiers and later all those killed in military service to their country? During World War I, much of the fighting took place in Western Europe. The Belgium Flanders, the Northernmost point of the Western Front during the First World War, became one of the most devastated regions in the battlefield. The war turned the beautiful countryside into a field of mud where noth...ing could grow. Yet poppy flowers sprouted on the scarred and ravaged land. ______ The Education Department is striving to honor the over 26,000 men of the Eighth Air Force who gave their lives in WWII to help end tyranny and bring freedom back to the world. To help students pay tribute to these men and understand better how many lives were lost, the Education Department is created a hall of poppies commemorating their sacrifice. We hope to collect 26,000 red paper poppies. Each poppy will pay homage to the ultimate sacrifice a member of the 8thAF made for his country and the world. While visiting the museum, students and adults will pass this humbling exhibit displaying the magnitude of the mortality suffered during the war. ______ Learn more about the History of the Remembrance Poppy by watching our Target for Today on Thursday, November 5 at 2pm ET on Facebook LIVE Photo: Courtesy of Visit Flanders To Make a Poppy for our Poppy Hall of Valor please go to Google Classroom Mighty 8th Museum Class Code dxl2aa2 or email [email protected] for a Google Classroom invite. Can’t watch live- don’t worry. You can watch it on Facebook at anytime afterwards or see it on https://vimeo.com/mighty8thmuseum or our Google Classroom.

Target for Today TOMORROW, Thursday, November 5 at 2pm EDT for a Facebook LIVE HISTORY OF THE REMEMBRANCE POPPY One hundred years after World War I, the red poppy still symbolizes the sacrifices of soldiers. World War I officially ended on November 11, 1918. The Allied nations of the war continue to honor the fallen on November 11 known as Remembrance or Armistice Day. Americans celebrate November 11 as Veteran’s Day to show appreciation for all who served past and present... in the military. We honor those who died in military service on Memorial Day, the last Monday of May. The red poppy is worn on each of these holidays. Join us TODAY, Thursday, November 5 at 2pm EDT for a Facebook LIVE to learn more about the History of the Remembrance Poppy. _________________________ Contact [email protected] for details. After each live video find at home activities with our Google Classroom Mighty 8th Museum Class Code dxl2aa2 or email for a Google Classroom invite. Can’t watch live- don’t worry. You can watch it on Facebook at anytime afterwards or see it on https://vimeo.com/mighty8thmuseum or our Google Classroom. Photo: From the Collection National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

November 4, 1943 The 435th Troop Carrier Group arrived in England, on November 4, 1943, Lt Joe Sullivan and his colleagues considered themselves to be fully qualified navigators. After arriving in the UK as one of the first USAAF Troop Carrier units to be assigned to the 9th Air Force, the 435th went into an immediate training mode that lasted for seven months, until June of 1944. On D-Day, Joe's plane is shot down. His family is notified but does not learn what happene...d to him until his nephew Jerry uncovered the truth decades later. Pick up a copy of https://shop.mightyeighth.org/d-day-60-years-a-small-piece/ to solve the mystery.

WE CAN DO IT! Organize, that is! Our Rosie lunch box comes in red or navy. AND it is an awesome place to store your pens/pencils, tools, art supplies, makeup, office supplies, crafting items and so much more! Its not just to carry your lunch in anymore. Its also a great as a "gift bag." Who wouldn't want to store their important items in a Rosie the Riveter box for safe keeping! ... Our Rosie box comes in red or navy. https://shop.mightyeighth.org/rosie-the-riveter-lunch-box/

May 1915 In Flander’s Field By Lt. Colonel John McCrae In Flanders' fields the poppies blow... Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place: and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders' fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe; To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high, If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders' Fields. ______ In early May 1915, after the Second Battle of Ypres in a portion of Flanders, known as Flanders Fields, a Canadian doctor and poet, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, who recently lost a friend in the battle, witnessed the sight of bright red poppies flourishing in this unlikely place. The vision inspired him to write a poem called In Flanders Fields, which was published in Britain. The poem has been part of memorial ceremonies across the world ever since and was originally used for military recruiting and selling war bonds as well. ______ Learn more about the History of the Remembrance Poppy by watching our Target for Today on Thursday, November 5 at 2pm ET on Facebook LIVE Photo: The Poppy Hall of Valor National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force To Make a Poppy for our Poppy Hall of Valor please go to Google Classroom Mighty 8th Museum Class Code dxl2aa2 or email [email protected] for a Google Classroom invite. Can’t watch live- don’t worry. You can watch it on Facebook at anytime afterwards or see it on https://vimeo.com/mighty8thmuseum or our Google Classroom.

The Mighty Eighth will be having 2 days of Veteran's Day Camp this year Wednesday, November the 11th, and Saturday, November 14th The camps will run from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm with lunch (Pizza) being provided. Ages 6-12 Cost is $25.00 per camper per day! ... This year we will be creating a poppy wreath to place in the garden, have some sparkling grape juice to commemorate the 75th anniversary of World War II after a brief museum tour, and of course plenty of outside time on a beautiful fall day! Please, be aware that campers will be required to wear masks or bandanas while inside the museum and temperatures will be taken upon arrival. Please, follow the attached link, fill out the form, and submit to reserve your camper's slot. If you have any questions please message Kristin Singleton at [email protected] LINK HERE -----------> https://forms.gle/9qwEjDgawA9gsKBj6

Remembrance is Our Mission: THE POPPY PROJECT The Education Department is striving to honor the over 26,000 men of the Eighth Air Force who gave their lives in WWII to help end tyranny and bring freedom back to the world. To help students pay tribute to these men and understand better how many lives were lost, the Education Department is creating a wall of poppies commemorating their sacrifice. We hope to collect 26,000 red paper poppies created by students across America to ...include on our Poppy Wall of Valor. Each poppy will pay homage to the ultimate sacrifice a member of the Eighth Air Force made for his country and the world. While visiting the museum, students and adults will pass this humbling exhibit displaying the magnitude of the mortality suffered during the war. Twenty six thousand poppies will give a deeper understanding of this great number and how many gave their lives. With the death of over 26,000 men, the Eighth Air Force lost more men than the entire Marine Corps during WWII. Please help us pay tribute to these heroes today. Your freedom is their gift. _____________ Use materials you already have at home. Please use cardstock or construction paper if you are making paper poppies. See more

November 3, 1943 TSgt Sidney Graboyes 100thBG 351stSQ Radio Operator On November 3, 1943, TSgt Sidney Graboyes flew his first mission in the Eighth Air Force. ... Sidney Graboyes Missions: #1-7 out of 25 completed. 1. November 3, 1943 - Wilhelmshaven 2. November 5, 1943 - Gelsenkirchen (Ruhr Valley) 3. November 7, 1943 - Duren 4. November 16, 1943 - Rjukan (Norway) 5. November 26, 1943 - Bremen 6. November 29, 1943 - Bremen 7. November 30, 1943 - Solingen (Ruhr Valley) TSgt Sidney Graboyes successfully completed his 25 required mission operational tour of duty with the 8th Air Force. 8. December 5, 1943 - Bordeaux 9. December 16, 1943 - Bremen 10. December 22, 1943 Munster 11. December 24, 1943 - Pas de Calais 12. December 31, 1943 - Paris 13. January 4, 1944 - Kiel 14. January 5, 1944 - Neuss (Ruhr Valley) 15. January 11, 1944 - Brunswick 16. January 21, 1944 - St. Omar 17. January 29, 1944 - Frankfurt 18. January 30, 1944 - Brunswick 19. February 4, 1944 - Frankfurt 20. February 20, 1944 - Stettin 21. February 21, 1944 Brunswick 22. February 24, 1944 Rostock 23. February 25, 1944 - Regensburg 24. February 29, 1944 - Brunswick 25. March 4, 1944 Berlin Crew Photo: 351st Carl A. Janssen Crew: Standing from left: Jack H. Oller - CP, Frederick D. Fuller - NAV, Carl A. Janssen - P & James M. Cathey; Kneeling from left: Ronald E. Smeall - WG, T. Chappel - BTG, Sidney Graboyes - ROG, Veron T. McNabb - WG, Walter E. Fisher - TG & Earl L Symes - TTE Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives) From the Sidney Graboyes Collection National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

Watch our past Target for Today featuring ROSIE: STRONGER THAN STEEL Words + Pictures by Lindsay Ward AND THEN PURCHASE A COPY OF THE BOOK! A great holiday gift! ... Author Lindsay Ward will read her new children's book "ROSIE: STRONGER THAN STEEL" and chat with us. Join us to hear this wonderful story and ask questions. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=693645814575066 About the Book _______________________________________________ "This is our Rosie, stronger than steel. She’ll plow all the land with a turn of her wheel." Built by women in the United States and sent to England to dig and plow alongside female farmers during World War II, Rosie the tractor does whatever is needed to support the war effort. She works day and night to help grow crops for the troopseven when she has to hide in the fields. This is because she knows, like the women who built her and the women who farm with her, that they all must do their part. Inspired by the group of American women collectively known as Rosie the Riveter and the British Women’s Land Army, this is a story about taking action and coming together for the greater good. https://shop.mightyeighth.org/rosie-stronger-than-steel-by/ https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=693645814575066

Target for Today Thursday, November 5 at 2pm EDT for a Facebook LIVE HISTORY OF THE REMEMBRANCE POPPY One hundred years after World War I, the red poppy still symbolizes the sacrifices of soldiers. World War I officially ended on November 11, 1918. The Allied nations of the war continue to honor the fallen on November 11 known as Remembrance or Armistice Day. Americans celebrate November 11 as Veteran’s Day to show appreciation for all who served past and present in the mi...litary. We honor those who died in military service on Memorial Day, the last Monday of May. The red poppy is worn on each of these holidays. Join us TODAY, Thursday, November 5 at 2pm EDT for a Facebook LIVE to learn more about the History of the Remembrance Poppy. _________________________ Contact [email protected] for details. After each live video find at home activities with our Google Classroom Mighty 8th Museum Class Code dxl2aa2 or email for a Google Classroom invite. Can’t watch live- don’t worry. You can watch it on Facebook at anytime afterwards or see it on https://vimeo.com/mighty8thmuseum or our Google Classroom. National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

On this day in 1944, 2nd Lieutenant Robert Femoyer was killed in action. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. https://www.mightyeighth.org/medal-of-honor-femoyer/

Listen to author Rona Simmons speak about her book "The Other Veterans of World War II: Stories from Behind the Front Lines" at https://vimeo.com/mighty8thmuseum Then pick up a copy of her book at https://shop.mightyeighth.org/the-other-veterans-of-world-/