Wisconsin Veterans Museum Oral Historian Luke Sprague teaches a course on how to use PastPerfect 5.0 for cataloging oral histories. REGISTER HERE

In this lecture, World War I historian Dr. Edward Lengel looks at the exploits of the Red Arrow Division in World War I, emphasizing what the war was like from the perspective of the men who fought it. The 32nd ‘Red Arrow’ Division, based on the Wisconsin and Michigan National Guard, was one of the premiere fighting units of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I.   It was one of the first American divisions to see combat in the summer of 1918, and developed a sterling reputation in battles that climaxed in August at the shell-torn French village of Fismes. In October, the division was deployed to the toughest and most important part of the lines in the gigantic Meuse-Argonne offensive, eventually cracking the central German stronghold at the Heights of Cunel and Romagne and so assuring eventual American victory. REGISTER HERE

Tune in for a Curator Conversation with award-winning journalist and bestselling author Kevin Maurer. He’ll be talking about his latest book, Rock Force, a play-by-play of the ten days it took for U.S. troops to win back Corregidor. The story transports readers back to the heady days of WWII and into the fire with a tough-as-nails regiment of Army paratrooper working together to pull off the impossible. This event is free and presented by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation. REGISTER HERE

Grab some popcorn and a seat in your favorite chair, and join us for a Movie Night and Virtual Discussion with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Staff. While we can’t all be together, we can share discussion on major motion pictures that deal with the hardships, humor, and horrors of combat. For our first Movie Night Discussion of the 2021, we’ll start with the dark humor masterpiece from Stanley Kubrick, Dr. Strangelove or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. This cult classic tells the story of an insane general bent on starting a nuclear war and the bizarre war room of politicians and generals trying to stop him. The star-studded cast includes Peter Sellers (playing 3 different roles), George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Slim Pickens, and James Earl Jones. Your mission is to watch the movie, which is available from most libraries or on streaming services, while thinking about the discussion questions we will provide you. On January 29th, at 7:00 pm we’ll all meet via Zoom for a discussion led by museum staff. We will cover themes such as conflict, politics, pop culture, the military, and movie-making. REGISTER HERE

Grab some popcorn and a seat in your favorite chair, and join us for a Movie Night and Virtual Discussion with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Staff. While we can’t all be together, we can share discussion on major motion pictures that deal with the hardships, humor, and horrors of combat. In honor of African-American History month, we’ll take a look at the hard-hitting, World War II drama A Soldier’s Story, starring Howard E. Rollins Jr., Adolph Caesar, David Alan Grier, Robert Townsend, and Denzel Washington. Set in Louisiana during World War II, this film tells the story of a murdered Black Master Sergeant and the tough Army Captain sent to investigate the crime. Dealing with issues of race, prejudice, and segregation, this gripping drama is a must see for movie and history fans alike. Your mission is to watch the movie, which is available from most libraries or on streaming services, while thinking about the discussion questions we will provide you. On February 26th, at 7:00 pm we’ll all meet via Zoom for a discussion led by museum staff. We will cover themes such as conflict, politics, pop culture, the military, and movie-making. REGISTER HERE

On this 30th anniversary, join director Chris Kolakowski and curator of history Kevin Hampton for a special Curator Conversations as they explore the strategies and Wisconsin stories of the 42-day air campaign and the 100-hour land war. Thirty years ago, on February 24, 1991, the final phase of Operation Desert Storm began with the launch of a massive coalition ground offensive after 39 continuous days of air attacks. By March 1, 1991 a ceasefire was declared and the war was effectively over. REGISTER HERE

Join a discussion of women veterans in service as taken from their personal letters, diaries, and reminiscences, and what service meant to them at the time and later in their lives. Jennifer Van Haaften, assistant director, and Brittany Strobel, processing archivist, will share these stories from the Wisconsin Veterans Museum archives. REGISTER HERE

As a Smithsonian Affiliate, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum is proud to share this program with you. Dr. Margaret Weitekamp has researched and written on how a groundswell of support helped create a Lego set representing women’s contributions to aerospace. Join us for a discussion of how women have worked from the very beginning of aviation to innovate, and how museums have documented their stories. Featuring:  Margaret Weitekamp, PhD, Curator and Department Chair, Space History Department, National Air and Space Museum REGISTER HERE

From ill-fitting compromises to designer couture, the quest for uniformity with male counterparts has been almost as great of a struggle as the desire for women to serve. The museum staff will discuss the military uniform designs and regulations for women in service from WWI to present and they will examine the strengths and weakness of this evolution. REGISTER HERE

Grab some popcorn and a seat in your favorite chair, and join us for a Movie Night and Virtual Discussion with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Staff. While we can’t all be together, we can share discussion on major motion pictures that deal with the hardships, humor, and horrors of combat. With Vietnam Veterans Day right around the corner (March 29), we will be discussing the gritty war drama Platoon (1986), starring Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, John C. McGinley, and Forest Whitaker. Set in 1967, a young man leaves college and enlists in the U.S. Army for duty in Vietnam. Quickly disillusioned of his idealistic attitude toward the conflict, he faces the reality and horrors of war and man in this Academy Award winning film by Oliver Stone. Your mission is to watch the movie, which is available from most libraries or on streaming services, while thinking about the discussion questions we will provide you. On March 26th, at 7:00 pm we’ll all meet via Zoom for a discussion led by museum staff. We will cover themes such as conflict, politics, pop culture, the military, and movie-making. After you register, we will email you the discussion questions and a link to join the virtual discussion via Zoom. This event is free and open to the public. REGISTER HERE

This beginner-level workshop will focus on using the Oral History Metadata Synchronizer (OHMS) for quickly providing access to oral histories utilizing the index function. The class explains the general purpose and uses of OHMS. This course will teach the user how to request access, set up initial metadata records, index oral histories (audio/video), and assign project users. This event is free and sponsored by The Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation. REGISTER HERE:

Join us via ZOOM for a discussion with Adam Holton, former Commanding Officer of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines. In 2004 Holton took Madison-based Golf Company to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Holton arrived a few months after the situation in Iraq had turned into full-scale insurgency. Challenged with a mission in an area of operation that was almost 50% Shia and 50% Sunni, Holton and the members of Golf Company learned to build trust. Since returning from deployment, Holton has stayed connected with the important effort of supporting veterans and conveying the importance of our country fulfilling the social contract we have with them. Currently, he is writing a book telling stories of the individuals he served with. REGISTER HERE

Grab some popcorn and a seat in your favorite chair and join us for a Movie Night and Virtual Discussion with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Staff. While we can’t all be together yet, we can share discussion on major motion pictures that deal with the hardships, humor, and horrors of combat. Our film for April is the 1957 classic, The Bridge on the River Kwai. This WWII drama stars William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, and Sessue Hayakawa and focuses on British POW’s tasked to build a bridge while allied planners plot to destroy it.   Your mission is to watch the movie on your own and review the questions we provide you before this discussion event. On April 30, 2021, at 7:00 pm we’ll all meet via Zoom for a conversation led by museum staff. We will cover themes such as conflict, politics, pop culture, the military, and movie-making.   After you register, we will email you the discussion questions and a link to join the virtual discussion via Zoom. This event is free and open to the public and suitable for all ages.  REGISTER HERE

While the Wisconsin Veterans Museum has been closed, the staff have reimagined the permanent exhibit presentation and refreshed some of the stories that are being told there. Join Chris Kolakowski, WVM Director, and Kevin Hampton, WVM Curator of History, as they discuss the project and share some of the new stories that will be on display when the museum reopens.  Program funding made possible by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation through the generous support of Generac Power Systems. REGISTER HERE

Grab some popcorn and a seat in your favorite chair, and join us for a Movie Night and Virtual Discussion with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Staff. While we can’t all be together, we can share discussion on major motion pictures that deal with the hardships, humor, and horrors of combat. The Sand Pebbles will be our feature for May, which is the story of naval gunboat crew on the Yangtze River facing upheaval in China during the mid-1920’s. Starring Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Richard Crenna, and Candice Bergen, this Academy Award winning film deserves a spot on our list. Your mission is to watch the movie on your own and review the questions we provide you before this discussion event. On May 28, 2021, at 7:00 pm we’ll all meet via Zoom for a conversation led by museum staff. We will cover themes such as conflict, politics, pop culture, the military, and movie-making. After you register, we will email you the discussion questions and a link to join the virtual discussion via Zoom. This event is free and open to the public and suitable for mature audiences. REGISTER HERE

Brief Description: We are thrilled to announce M.B. Dallocchio as our guest artist for the June 2021 Drink & Draw. Grab your drawing supplies and your sketchbook to learn how to create a mixed-media sketch book. This month’s format will be a little different because we will be showing M.B.’s pre-recorded workshop so you may get the best visuals of the work she is demonstrating. The artist and our education staff will still be available live to answer any questions. No experience necessary. M.B. Dallocchio is a London-based Chamorro artist, author, and social worker who specializes in artistic psychosocial rehabilitation. Dallocchio served as a medic, mental health sergeant, and retention NCO in the US Army for eight years. While on deployment to Ramadi, Iraq in 2004-2005, she served as a member of "Team Lioness," the first female team that was attached to Marine infantry and Special Forces units to perform checkpoint operations, house raids, and personnel searches on Iraqi women and children for weapons and explosives. In addition to having been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times, Huffington Post, Las Vegas Review-Journal, PBS, Yahoo! News, and many other media outlets covering facing injustice during and after combat, she also speaks out on women and minority issues, post-traumatic resilience, and the importance of self-empowerment. Dallocchio received her MSW from the University of Southern California and is a David L. Boren Scholar in Czech studies and international relations. She currently produces art tutorials and virtual exhibits on Veteran Art Studio via YouTube and other social media platforms. Her current virtual gallery exhibit, Fuetsan Famalao'an: A Journey Through Chamorro Matriarchy, is on display from 01 May - 31 Jul 2021. It features a chronology of Indigenous Chamorro women and survival from matriarchal society through centuries of multilateral colonization and military occupation. REGISTER HERE Learn more about the artist here: https://www.thedesertwarrior.com/ This event is free of charge and open to anyone who registers. We will send you a link to join the event after you register. Program funding made possible by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation through the generous support of Generac Power Systems.

Grab some popcorn and a seat in your favorite chair, and join us for a Movie Night and Virtual Discussion with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Staff. While we can’t all be together, we can share discussion on major motion pictures that deal with the hardships, humor, and horrors of combat. June brings us into tank combat on the European front as we watch the Brad Pitt drama Fury. This film looks at a young rookie assigned to a veteran Sergeant’s tank crew as they push through Germany to deliver the final blow to Nazi’s.   Your mission is to watch the movie on your own and review the questions we provide you before this discussion event. On June 25, 2021, at 7:00 pm we’ll all meet via Zoom for a conversation led by museum staff. We will cover themes such as conflict, politics, pop culture, the military, and movie-making. After you register, we will email you the discussion questions and a link to join the virtual discussion via Zoom.  This event is free and open to the public and suitable for mature audiences.  Program funding made possible by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation through the generous support of Generac Power Systems. REGISTER HERE

Join us for our virtual Drink & Draw events as our Artist In-Residence is joined by talented guest artists who lead you through a delightful drawing experience inspired by images from the Wisconsin Veterans Museum collection. So gather your supplies, pour yourself a beverage, and bring your artistic energy as we spend the evening together stretching our creative muscles. This event is free of charge and open to anyone who registers. We will send you a link to join the event after you register. Program funding made possible by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation through the generous support of Generac Power Systems. REGISTER HERE

In the summer of 1921, a group of fliers led by Wisconsin’s Billy Mitchell proved in a series of tests that warships could be sunk solely from the air. This development influenced many developments up to and including World War II and beyond. WVM’s Chris Kolakowski and Kevin Hampton will explore the tests, their impact, and their legacies. This event is free and suitable for all ages. Program funding made possible by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation through the generous support of Generac Power Systems. REGISTER HERE

Grab some popcorn and a seat in your favorite chair, and join us for a Movie Night and Virtual Discussion with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Staff. While we can’t all be together, we can share discussion on major motion pictures that deal with the hardships, humor, and horrors of combat. For July, we will be looking at the 2019 powerhouse, The Last Full Measure, starring Sebastian Stan, William Hurt, Samuel L. Jackson, and Christopher Plummer. Set in the decades after the Vietnam War, DoD staffer Scott Huffman is assigned to investigate a request for a Medal of Honor award. Learning the truth is sometimes difficult, yet what is discovered will not only change Huffman’s life, but the lives of others. Your mission is to watch the movie, which is available from most libraries or on streaming services (we will not be watching the movie the night of the program), while thinking about the discussion questions we will provide you. On July 30, 2021, at 7:00 pm we’ll all meet via Zoom for a discussion led by museum staff. We will cover themes such as conflict, politics, pop culture, the military, and movie-making. After you register, we will email you the discussion questions and a link to join the virtual discussion via Zoom. This event is free and open to the public.  Age Appropriate: This event is suitable for mature audiences as there is strong language and war violence throughout  Program funding made possible by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation through the generous support of Generac Power Systems. REGISTER HERE