New Military Exhibit

NEW MILITARY EXHIBIT

A new temporary exhibit, A Legacy of Service, is now open at Otter Tail County Historical Society (OTCHS), located in Fergus Falls since 1927. This exhibit was created to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution by focusing on the military service of Otter Tail County’s men and women. OTCHS gathered together a majority of its military collection for this display. Over 161 items plus many photographs. To OTCHS, these items symbolize sacrifice, heritage, and honor, and reflect the service of all Otter Tail County veterans, not just those collected by OTCHS.

While an exhibit like this would be appropriate at any time, it is particularly poignant now. Through this exhibit, OTCHS seeks to honor the veterans who served, freeing our nation from the English monarchy, keeping our nation united, and furthering democracy around the globe. Achievements worth celebrating.
 
The exhibit also provides a synopsis of each major war or conflict and draws connections to Otter Tail County where possible. Museum curator, Kathy Evavold, also sought to demonstrate the connection these servicemen and women had to their ancestral homes. “Generally, the further back we go, the closer those ties,” said Kathy. “We also considered the sacrifice of families who lost family members to these wars and included an area that pays tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” she continued
 
As you take your tour, you will view military uniforms and objects representing all wars with U.S. involvement and Otter Tail County resident connections. There are also many photographs, a nod to veteran organizations, American flags, and a case of memorabilia from the 1976 Bicentennial. There is also space allotted to letters home and a place to write a letter to a current service member. The D.A.R. organization will collect and mail the letters for OTCHS.
 
“I walked away with a deeper understanding of how Otter Tail County, and I imagine, all counties and communities in this nation, have connections and have made contributions to the wars the U.S. has been involved in,” said Charles, visiting from Wisconsin. He continued, “I’m also impressed by the whole museum you have here. For a small town, this was very impressive.”
 
OTCHS is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June-August, they are also open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission to the entire museum is $6 for adults, $2 for ages 5-11, and children 4 and under are free. Be sure to ask them about their museum scavenger hunt. As an added bonus, through July 11, visitors will also have the opportunity to see the temporary exhibit and artifacts celebrating Norwegian heritage. For more information or to schedule a group tour call 218-736-6038 or visit www.otchs.org.