Oregon museum's renovated military room reopens

Uniforms stand at attention among other military items at the Oregon Jerusalem Historical Society museum's renovated room that opened on Veteran's Day. NOT BLADE PHOTO Enlarge

William Moritz, 84, donated his uniform, Silver Star and Purple Heart from World War II to the museum. NOT BLADE PHOTO Enlarge

From a piece of wood from Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's flagship in the War of 1812 to a Silver Star awarded posthumously to an Oregon man killed in the Vietnam War, the renovated military room at the Oregon Jerusalem Historical Society museum made its debut on Veterans Day.

Several area veterans who donated uniforms and other military items to the museum for display, including 84-year-old William Moritz of Oregon, were at last week's open house.

Mr. Moritz, who was in the Army during World War II and was awarded both the Silver Star and Purple Heart, said his medals and other items are better off in a museum, where people can learn about them, rather than in his house.

"I thought rather than leave it there, the kids could come in and see it here," the married father of two and grandfather of four said of his collection.

The society's museum complex at 1133 Grasser St., Oregon, includes the military room on the second floor of historic Brandville School. The military room's renovation was spearheaded by society members Wanda Rice and Connie Isbell, who beat their original deadline of having it completed for the Civil War's sesquicentennial next year.

"This has been a labor of love, and when the old veterans come, it was worth it," said Ms. Isbell, society past president.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays.

All major conflicts from the War of 1812 to the Vietnam War are covered in the museum, which has a variety of weapons, equipment, uniforms, and other items. In a display case of Vietnam War items, there is the Silver Star awarded to the late Army Spec. Arthur Heringhausen, Jr., an Oregon man killed by a land mine on Nov. 20, 1968.

One of the uniforms on display belonged to the late Dallas Greenler, a long-time teacher at Clay High School who was in World War I.

The military room has a large collection of Civil War artifacts, including a Springfield .58-caliber musket Bernhardt Mueller picked up on his way home to Oregon after serving in the Civil War.

Exhibits from World War II include a display case with items used in the United States, including ration books and service flags with blue or gold stars.

A Japanese helmet in a military exhibit case has both entry and exit bullet holes.

The museum has a Nazi flag, but it is folded and tucked into the bottom of a display case.

"We didn't display it because we didn't think it deserved it," Ms. Isbell said.