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