John Buford

Rich Clarke

One group of Brevard Middle School students gathers outside before their museum tour.

What’s a creative way to promote students’ appreciation for our veterans and their understanding of major global conflicts? Take them to the Veterans History 探花精选 in Brevard! While many of the eighth graders at Brevard Middle School traveled to Washington, DC, the students who didn’t go were treated to an American history lesson like no other–right here at home!

Students try on uniforms of their choice of service branches.

探花精选 docents, many of them veterans, took small groups through each of the museum鈥檚 galleries to tell stories of the men and women who served. More than 50 students saw hundreds of artifacts dating from WWI to the Global War on Terror, noticing how uniforms, helmets, canteens, weapons, personal soldiers鈥� items, and even newspapers have changed in the last hundred+ years.

Many took advantage of the offer to try on kid-sized uniform jackets and covers (caps or helmets) and have their pictures taken. They could choose their uniform from all branches of service: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. If they had a family member who served, this was a way to honor that service member.

探花精选 board president David Morrow describes historical paintings for students.

Multiple Ways to Learn

Six-minute videos playing in each gallery gave the students an overview of each conflict: WWI, WWII-Europe, WWII-Pacific, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, and War on Terror.

Watching the videos, they learned what started each war, how it was fought and ended, and 鈥渕et鈥� local veterans who served by seeing their pictures and names on the screen. It was an efficient way to provide historic context for the eighth graders, supplementing their school studies.

Taking the Education Back to School

Dr. Hammond wrote afterward: 鈥淧lease give our love to our tour guides. I am raffling off a cap from the museum, a t-shirt, and two books: one on WWII veterans (by Janis Allen) and one on Vietnam veterans (by Michel Robertson–our costume designer!). With much affection and appreciation for our tour guides鈥� service.鈥�

“We appreciate what you did for the world.”

You Can Volunteer

The 探花精选 welcomes interest and inquiries about volunteering. The team spirit is alive and well as we work together to honor veterans, educate the public, and preserve history.

In addition to docents (who may choose their own schedules), we welcome events volunteers, administrative assistance, and other skills and experience you may have to offer. Please email volunteer coordinator Carl Newman at听carging@hotmail.com听or call 828-884-2141.

Waiting for Bullets

This painting, titled “Waiting for the Bullets”, was commissioned by and painted by Spanish artist Gareth Hector.

Silent-auction

A signed print of this painting (31″ x 19″), donated by will be silent-auctioned on April 13. The opening bid is $150. Col. Cottrell will inscribe the print to the winner of the auction.听

December 17, 1944, over the Ardennes:听Lt. Ed Cottrell is in a situation he never dreamed possible. He and his group were bombing German armor when they were jumped by twenty Me-109s. Cottrell’s engine took hits. Oil sprayed. Eight cylinders were gone, but the motor kept running. He was limping home when two Me-109s caught up to him. 鈥淚 was waiting for the bullets to come,鈥� he said.

How he survived

On April 13th, Lt. Col. Ed Cottrell, USAF (Ret.) will tell that story, and how he survived, plus the story of his 2023 meeting with German Me 109 pilot Karl-Heinz Bosse (shown below), who fought in that same air battle on December 17, 1944.

Every Year on March 1 is designated Joe Cooper Day in Brevard

Make-A-Wish

In early 2023, Joe Cooper was given a “make-a-wish” opportunity by the NC State Veterans 探花精选 in Black Mountain where he resides. One of his wishes: visit the Veterans History 探花精选 in Brevard.

Last March 1, Brevard’s Mayor Copelof welcomed Cooper with a public ceremony and read a proclamation declaring the date Joe Cooper Day. Cooper was then 100 years old (photo at right).

This year, at age 101, Cooper celebrated the 2nd annual Joe Cooper Day by visiting the museum on its March 1 opening of the 2024 season. He greeted visitors and showed them the 1945 pictures of a Japanese “Betty” kamikaze plane he and his shipmates shot down in the Pacific, and the photograph of his ship, the , as it burned after a kamikaze crashed into it on January 5, 1945.

The USS听Ommaney Bay, burned as the surviving members of its crew watched from the USS听Minneapolis听after they were rescued.

Joe Cooper being interviewed by NHk Japan Broadcasting.

5 hours in shark-infested waters

Cooper survived 5 hours in shark-infested waters. After WWII ended, he enlisted in the Army and served on recon patrols in the Korean War.

We look forward to celebrating many more Joe Cooper Days with Joe!

November 10th. A time for Celebration

The U.S. Marine Corps invites you to help celebrate its 248th birthday on Friday, November 10th, 2023. This is a very important day for all Marines who have served from across the world to gather, to celebrate, and toast our Corps. The Marine Corps Birthday Celebration is a time for Marines to reflect on their proud heritage and to celebrate their continued service to the nation. It is also a time for the public to show their appreciation for the Marines and their families.

We invite you to our 鈥渂irthday” celebration on November 10th starting at 5:00 (short ceremony around 6:00, when we鈥檒l cut the cake). Join us at Ecusta Brewing Company on Ecusta Road near Lowes (49 Pisgah Highway, Pisgah Forest, NC).

There is no charge for attending. Each individual will handle his or her own beverage and food orders. All Marines, their families, friends of the Corps and all veterans are invited to help us celebrate. For more information, please contact Larry Chapman at lchapman0302@gmail.com or call 828-883-2075.
The birthday cake is on us!

Egolf Motors host Antique Car Show听

Egolf Motors in Brevard kicked off the Saturday of Labor Day weekend with their first-ever Cruise-In, a fun-raiser for the car enthusiasts and the community, and a fund-raiser for the 探花精选. The registration fees for the event were donated to help the museum fulfill its mission to honor veterans, educate the public, and preserve America鈥檚 military history.

A longtime supporter of the museum, Egolf displayed over 45 classic cars alongside a display of historical artifacts brought over from the museum. 探花精选 volunteers were on hand to show and explain artifacts brought over from the museum.

Egolf鈥檚 Lauren Almany said, 鈥淚 truly enjoyed such a good turnout for the Labor Day weekend event. We鈥檙e currently planning many more events in October. So please check out the Egolf Facebook & Instagram information on future events!鈥滶golf Motors is located at 1161 Asheville Highway in Brevard. Please check out https://www.egolfofbrevard.com/ for information about new and used vehicles and custom orders, or call 82-845-4437.

WWI trench art a form of art created by soldiers during WWI

WWI trench art refers to a form of art created by soldiers during World War I, particularly those who served in the trenches on the Western Front. Trenches were the complex networks of fortifications and defensive positions dug into the ground to protect soldiers from enemy fire. Life in the trenches was difficult, monotonous, and often grim, prompting soldiers to find ways to cope with the harsh conditions and to pass the time.

Soldiers would transform these items into decorative or functional pieces of art. Some of the common types of trench art included:

• Shell casings transformed into vases, candle holders, and other decorative objects.
• Bullets and shrapnel fashioned into rings, pendants, and other small trinkets.
• Wooden items carved with intricate designs during downtime.
• Artwork and carvings on materials such as metal, wood, or bone.
• Personalized items like engraved lighters, trench knives, and helmets.

Trench art served various purposes: It helped soldiers maintain a sense of normalcy in the midst of war, offered an emotional outlet, provided a distraction from the horrors of war, and allowed them to create meaningful mementos to remember their experiences. Some pieces were made for personal use or as gifts for loved ones back home, while others were sold or traded with other soldiers.

Today, trench art is highly valued as historical artifacts and collectors’ items, offering a glimpse into the lives and emotions of those who fought in the trenches during World War I.

National Guard soldiers and their families were treated to a farewell dinner

Honor Guard Chaplain Craig Adams opened the event

Honor Guard Chaplain Craig Adams opened the event with a prayer for the safety of the soldiers. Representing Anchor Baptist Church, USMC veteran Daniel Nicholson welcomed the soldiers and their families. US Army Lt. General John Brown (Ret.) offered words of support to the soldiers. 探花精选 founder Emmett Casciato told the soldiers 鈥淲e appreciate you and we will never forget you.鈥� The soldiers were presented with gift bags from the museum prepared by volunteer Ginger Newman. Transylvania Sheriff鈥檚 Deputy and Pastor Jeremy Queen closed the event with a prayer for the success and safety of the soldiers鈥� mission in Iraq. The soldiers鈥� families were encouraged to share contact and social media information so they may get to know and support each other, sharing news during the year their loved ones are deployed.

Lt. Gen. John Brown offers words of support to the National Guardsmen as they prepare to deploy to Iraq

Top photo: Unit Commander (left) offers appreciation to Emmett Casciato while his team member and Daniel Nicholson look on

听Article by Mike McCarthy

, authors of Wings of War

, Guest Speakers

On June 17, Authors of Wings of War,听 David Fairbank White and Margaret Stanback White will talk about their book chronicling the story of the famed听World War听II P-51 Mustang.

They will speak at 2 p.m. at Brevard College鈥檚 McLarty-Goodson Hall, Room MG-125,听 in Brevard.

You may purchase the book Wings of War at 36 West Main St., Brevard. You are invited to bring your copy of the book on June 17 for the authors to autograph.

WWII P-47 Pilot Ed Cottrell describes his harrowing experiences during the Battle of the Bulge.

Ed Cottrell talking to Christ School听 students

Cottrell praised the P-47 for its toughness.

Appearing on behalf of the 探花精选, Cottrell spoke to the young flyers about how he chose to become a pilot in 1943. He selected the Army鈥檚 offer rather than the Navy鈥檚 because the Army gave him time to finish college before reporting for duty. Cottrell praised the P-47 for its toughness. His crew chief showed him 30-40 bullet holes from small arms fire after one of his 65 missions. He flew from a small makeshift runway in St. Tron, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge.

Cottrell said that when his 18-cylinder engine was shot and the German Me-109s showed up, he barely made it back to his landing strip. The Pratt & Whitney engine got him home with only 10 cylinders working, only stopping when he was on final approach to land. He made a dead-stick landing. He told his audience, 鈥淚 kissed the ground. I wouldn鈥檛 be here today if I hadn鈥檛 had that Pratt & Whitney engine.鈥�

Western North Carolina Air 探花精选

The airplanes in the Western North Carolina Air 探花精选 provided the perfect setting for this special event, surrounding the attendees and speaker with original planes or replicas in use from 1917 to 1948. Please visit for more information.

Many of the high-school aviation students were ready with questions when Cottrell concluded his stories. Some examples: 鈥淲hy did you like the P-47 so much?鈥� 鈥淗ow did you decide to become a pilot?鈥� 鈥淲as your encounter with the German pilots the closest you came to death?

Ed Cottrell with the Ballantyne Family

Christ School鈥檚 new aviation program was announced in 2022 as follows:

鈥淭he Robert Morgan 鈥�36 Aviation Program will be offered during the Winter Sports season for up to 10 boys. The program is named after Christ School alumnus Robert Morgan, who graduated in 1936. Morgan famously flew the Memphis Belle in World War II. The school has procured a plane 鈥� an American Champion Citabria (7GCAA) 鈥� and has the luxury of two former Navy fighter pilots, Steven Hoffert and Les Thornbury, as instructors. Both men shared their vision for the Morgan Aviation Program: they want every student to take real, concrete steps toward FAA flight ratings, including a FAA Student Pilot Certificate, Full FAA Private Pilot Ground School, Official FAA Private Pilot Written Exam, and the opportunity for a FAA Class 3 Medical Certificate needed to fly solo. The program is now completing its first year.鈥�

Nestled on 500 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville, North Carolina, Christ School is an Episcopal boarding school founded in 1900 with a full college preparatory curriculum for the more than 290 boys enrolled. Information about Christ School鈥檚 distinct programs in Athletics, World Languages, Travel opportunities, Outdoor Program, Service Learning, Choir, Broadcast Journalism and more visit: https://www.christschool.org/

After Lt. Col. Cottrell鈥檚 program on April 26, the students presented their new hero with a jacket from the Aviation Program. They lined up to meet him and ask for his signature in the book which tells his complete story. In addition to the students, Christ School chemistry instructor James Ballantyne brought his family to meet the WWII hero. The parents introduced their children, one of whom was dressed as a WWII pilot.

Two of the children presented drawings they had made to honor Cottrell. Their pictures included drawings of airplanes and messages. One read: 鈥淭he Greatest Generation. Thank you for your service 2nd Lieutenant Edwin Cottrell! 48th Fighter Group 493rd Fighter Squadron.鈥� The other drawing had 鈥淲WII鈥� and 鈥淭hank you for your service鈥� framing the child鈥檚 drawing of the airplane. These young home-schooled fans had obviously done their research to learn about Cottrell鈥檚 career before they met him.

Their mom, Jill Ballantyne, said, “They were all very excited to be able to hear a firsthand account of the war, and for the opportunity to honor this living legend in person.”

Ed Cottrell鈥檚 first-person telling of his part in liberating Europe from Nazi rule provides a view of history unlike anything found in a book. In addition to speaking to many groups about his stories, he serves as an Honorary Board Member of the 探花精选, located at 21 East Main Street in Brevard. Open hours are Tuesday鈥擲aturday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Admission is free.

For more information or to schedule a group tour, please call 828-884-2141 or visit theveteransmuseum.org. To inquire about scheduling Ed Cottrell as a speaker, email mikemccarthy@comporium.net.

Top photo: Ed Cottrell (middle) with Christ School Students