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Largo museum filled with military exhibits
By LEE CLARK ZUMPE
Article published on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/081408_leart-01.jpg) |
| Photo by LEE CLARK ZUMPE |
| Weapons and ordnance are featured in this exhibit. |
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LARGO – Boasting one of the largest collections of military memorabilia in the state of Florida, the Armed Forces Military Museum will officially open its doors on Saturday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m. The grand opening ceremonies will get under way at 12:30 p.m.
The museum is housed in a 35,000-square-foot recently renovated building.
On display, guests will discover a vast array of authentic artifacts and equipment, dating from World War I through to the modern day soldier. Many exhibits are enhanced to offer visitors a first-hand view of war-time episodes. Audio and visual effects, smoke simulators and detailed backdrops amplify the overall experience and set the facility apart from more traditional museums.
Entering the museum, guests will find a salute to all service branches with a large, professional display of uniforms in a spacious gallery. Firearms, ordnance, mines and grenades are found in display cases in the next room.
Guests then walk through a pair of double doors and find themselves walking through a replica of a World War I trench. Gunfire echoes in the distance and the din of field communications adds to the commotion. Original period memorabilia is employed to make this stroll through time possible.
This is only the first of several scenes the museum has methodically reproduced to offer its visitors a more engaging experience. The facility also houses a detailed depiction of the attack on Pearl Harbor featuring ongoing footage on a projection screen and model ships used in the 1970 film “Tora! Tora! Tora!” Further along, guests walk along a re-creation of Utah Beach with shells, mines and hedgehogs as well as a full-size Sherman tank disembarking from the bow of LST-205.
The museum is also home to a display of German Third Reich artifacts including uniforms, medals and other memorabilia.
Among the vehicles on display are a DUKW amphibian landing craft and a Ford XM151 experimental utility truck.
The opening ceremonies will be hosted by area radio personality Jack Harris and will include posting of colors by an honor guard, presentation of the flag by Congressman C.W. Bill Young, raising of the flag, the national anthem, raising of service flags and the pledge of allegiance. Following an invocation, Largo Mayor Patricia Girard will head up the ribbon cutting.
Brig. Gen. Ronald F. Baczkowski will deliver the keynote speech. Other guest speakers will include Young and Girard as well as State Rep. Janet Long, Pinellas County Commissioner John Morroni, retired Rear Adm. LeRoy Collins Jr.
The museum is a nonprofit charitable foundation dedicated to preserving America’s military history and educating current and future generations about the sacrifices made by members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The museum was founded in 1996 by John J. Piazza Sr., a local businessman and military buff. From 1996 to 2006, the museum and its staff operated a mobile unit housing 16 unique displays. With the ever-growing amount of memorabilia, though, the museum’s nonsalaried board of directors decided that the time had come to develop a permanent site for the collection.
As if there isn’t already enough to see, the museum is already working on several additional displays and presentations. Plans are in development for exhibits representing the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Enduring Freedom.
Admission on opening day will be $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 7 to 12 and free for children under 6 as well as active and retired military personnel with identification. Regular admission will be $8 adults, $5 children ages 7 to 12. Regular business hours will be Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
The Armed Forces Military Museum is at 2050 34th Way N. off of Ulmerton Road between Belcher and Starkey roads. Call 539-8371 or visit www.armedforcesmuseum.net.
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Article published on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008
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