A valuable heritage at risk
This past Nov. 11 marked the 100th anniversary of the “War to End All Wars,” World War I. This was of particular significance to me as my grandfather, a 1912 West Point graduate, was an infantry officer in that war. He also served in World War II. Following on the heels of his service, my father, a career Army aviator, also served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. My service as a combat medic, during the Vietnam War, sadly was met with disdain and disrespect at our airports; a difficult time in our country’s history.
Today, without obligatory service to our country, many fail to recognize, fail to appreciate, the sacrifice that our young men and women made and continue to make to our country when in uniform. It was this sacrifice, often the ultimate sacrifice, that we sought to proudly recognize at Spokane’s Honor Point Military and Aerospace Museum. Although located at Felts Field, Honor Point’s significance was not in being in a hangar, but rather as a place hallowed by the thousands of artifacts on display that often were donated by residents of Spokane.
Honor Point always sought to reflect the proud heritage that Spokane had for aviation and its military. Its mission statement, “Serving Country, Supporting Community,” was strongly supported at this hallowed facility. Honor Point proudly served for two years, providing our veterans a place that said “Welcome home.” In this time, we welcomed more than 14,000 visitors, sponsored over 250 community events, and provided dozens of educational presentations for Spokane’s children. Our proud history is still documented online at www.honorpoint.org.
Sadly, Spokane’s military museum had to vacate its facility when the rent was raised to an unsustainable level. Our history and proud heritage still remains in the thousands of artifacts that, sadly, reside in a warehouse unavailable to the public. We continue to search for a new home that will enable us to continue our mission, however, without the help of the generous people of Spokane, the future of these precious artifacts is at risk.
We have proved that we “can” manage the cost of utilities and maintenance with the revenue gained from admissions, our gift shop and our many events. Our mission, however, is too important to leave solely in the hands of our valuable volunteers; we seek to hire a professional curator who will direct our operation. This addition, however, will only be feasible if we are not tied to an unpredictable rental schedule.
Our goal is to raise $1 million to buy the building, pay our curator, complete whatever specialized work is required, re-create and expand our exhibits, and showcase our community’s appreciation of its long history of military contributions. All of this can be sustained through incoming revenue – if we are not vulnerable to a rental volatility. We require a facility between 6,000 and 7,000 square feet with ready access to the public.
Our successful two-year run at Felts Field was made possible by the many nominal contributions made by Honor Point members, visitors, gift shop sales, and many exciting scheduled events. This is our last shot at trying to create a place of remembrance for the memories of those who sacrificed for our country, our community and the cause of freedom. Many who have made the ultimate sacrifice have already been forgotten, banished like many of our artifacts to attic storage.
Our volunteers talked to thousands of appreciative visiting veterans, with an interested public that wanted to know what “Uncle Charley” did in the war. Over the past two years, we rededicated ourselves to preserving a living history, to educate for a better future by understanding our past.
If you would like to help, please contact us through our website at www.honorpoint.org .
Elliott Briggs, president,
Honor Point Military and Aerospace Museum, P.O. Box 11246, Spokane, WA 99211; 509-244-0244