If you are tired of giving that same old tie, sweater or fruitcake, consider a unique gift through the Americans in Wartime Museum.

Give a gift of membership in the Museum. The annual membership (see page 7 or visit our website at www.nmaw.org and click on “Become a Member”) means you will receive updates about the Museum and its mission, an invitation to our annual open house and other special events, and a Museum memento. You will also help us advance our mission to honor the wartime service of American men and women.

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Give a Unique & Lasting Holiday Gift

In This Issue:From The Chairman 2Profile: Cindy Andreotti 3Museum Endorsements 4Vehicle Collection 5Sharing Your Stories 6Open House Photos 6Join Our Cause 7

Volume 4, Issue 3 December 2013

Citizens Serving the Cause of Freedom

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Our Mission: Honoring Your Loved OneDo you have a loved one who is a veteran or active

duty military? Do you want to honor the memory of someone who served America during wartime? Tell us

how the Americans in Wartime Museum can help you honor their current or past service to our nation.

The Museum’s mission is to honor those who served in all branches of the United States military and on the home front from World War I to the present, and to share the

personal experiences, realities of war, and sacrifices made by Americans striving to preserve our freedoms. We can honor your family member, friend or loved one in many ways:• Send us wartime stories, letters or photos to share on

our blog at www.nmaw.org/blog. You can send your items to kbentz@nmaw.org.

• Share your wartime experience through our Wartime Oral History Program, a video history project featuring personal stories of wartime service and sacrifice (see details on page 6).

• Let us know if you have special artifacts, mementos or keepsakes from wartime service. We might be able to use them in our Museum collections.

• Post photos or brief stories of wartime service on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AmericanWartimeMuseum).

• Make a Tribute Gift to the Museum in honor of your loved one (http://www.nmaw.org/get-involved/make-a-tribute-gift/). These special gifts will support the collections, exhibits and educational programs of the Americans in Wartime Museum – and help preserve the stories of our American heroes. We will send the person you are honoring and/or their family a letter to acknowledge your gift.

From Our ChairmanPeople associated with the Americans in Wartime Museum have often heard me quote Carl Sandburg,

“Nothing happens unless first a dream.” My dream—my greatest wish—is to honor our nation’s true heroes through our Museum.

I never fail to be moved by the stories of those who have served our nation, whether in uniform or the home front. Whenever I speak to groups about the Museum, I hear amazing stories of courage and selflessness—the mother whose 19-year-old died while serving in Iraq, the young man who lost his legs in Afghanistan, the 88-year-old with harrowing tales of service as a WWII nurse, the Army veteran who shares photos from his service in Vietnam, the widow who wants to donate her husband’s wartime keepsakes. The stories are often told with tears, sometimes with laughter and always with pride.

I invite you to join the Museum, our Board of Trustees, and our supporters in making the Americans in Wartime Museum a reality. Together, we will build a one-of-a-kind Museum that will educate and entertain visitors from all walks of life—young and old, men and women, from around the country and

around the world. Our mission is well underway:• We are already gathering and preserving wartime oral histories. • We have a large collection of vintage military vehicles to serve as a backdrop for these wartime stories. • We have an exceptional collection from the World Trade Center, including several pieces of steel and an

FDNY fire engine.• We have an incredible 70-acre site where site work is well underway for our world-class Museum.• We have planned a unique facility with extensive outdoor experiences as well as indoor collections and

exhibits.

I have a lifelong admiration for our veterans, our military personnel and the home front heroes who support them every day. I know many of you feel exactly the same way. If you are thinking about a year-end, tax-deductible contribution or a special holiday gift, we hope you will consider the Americans in Wartime Museum. You will find many suggestions in this newsletter, including becoming a Museum member, giving a gift membership, contributing to the Museum in your own name or making a Tribute Gift in honor of a loved one.

However you choose to give and at whatever level you can afford, know that you will support our mission and help us honor America’s finest men and women.

In the meantime, on behalf of the Americans in Wartime Museum, I wish you the happiest of holiday seasons and all the best in 2014!

Allan D. CorsChairman

Cindy Andreotti: Bringing Talent and Passion to the Museum

Cindy Andreotti has proven to be a devoted and passionate member of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. She brings boundless energy and enthusiasm, extraordinary professional credentials and a personal connection to the Museum’s

mission.

Cindy’s father, Eugene Joseph Andreotti, flew 22 missions over Japan during World War II as a gunner and flight engineer on B-29’s. Mr. Andreotti received many awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters. After active duty service, he began his career with the Minnesota Air National Guard, where he served 36 years before retiring in 1981 as a Chief Master Sergeant.

Cindy’s father was also a founding member of the Minnesota Wing of the Commemorative Air Force where they procured, restored and maintained vintage WWII aircraft. In addition he was one of the founding fathers of the Minnesota Air National Guard Museum which procures and restores vintage aircraft flown by the Minnesota Air Guard. His passion was to educate the local youth about aviation history. In 2000, he received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award from the FAA for outstanding achievement in aircraft maintenance. He was the first non-flying crew member inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame.

“I became a member of the Board of Trustees for two reasons,” said Cindy. “The first is to honor the memory of my father who volunteered to serve in WWII. The second is that this museum will allow us to educate young Americans about the personal experiences, the realities of war and the sacrifices made by American military

members striving to preserve our freedom. The Americans in Wartime Museum will become a dynamic learning tool for future generations and allow me to personally memorialize my father as a WWII American hero.”

Cindy has exceptional credentials of her own. She is a 26-year telecommunications industry veteran and currently, President and CEO of The Andreotti Group, a strategic business advisory firm. She was named as one of the most powerful women in Washington, D.C. by The Washington Post and has been referred to as “a powerhouse” in the telecom industry. Prior to launching The Andreotti Group, Cindy was instrumental in building AT&T and MCI into global leaders that dominated the enterprise segment.

Her “give 120 percent” motto shows clearly in her service to the Americans in Wartime Museum. She participates in every public event, lends her expertise to our fundraising campaign, and strengthens our connections with titans in the business and telecom industries. Whether leading a group tour at our “Tank Farm” or sharing her father’s story of wartime service, Cindy’s spirit and dedication to the Museum are invaluable.

In addition to her service on the Museum Board of Trustees, Cindy is an active member of the community. She is Vice Chairman of the Japan American Society, a member of the Board of Directors for PCTEL, Inc., and DiaXsys,Inc., and a Senior Advisor and Executive Coach for WJM Associates, Inc. Cindy is also a past member of the Accenture Women’s Leadership Forum, and Executive Committee member for the Red Cross in addition to being a past BOD member for several other public and private companies.

Photo credit to Amy Cors Flinn

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The 39th Bomb Group, Crew 35. S/Sgt Eugene Andreotti front row, first on left.Photo Courtesy of Hyman Blumenstock.

The late Eugene Joseph Andreotti and his daughter, Cindy, a member of the

Museum Board.

Growing Support for Our Museum

Prominent American organizations and individuals have endorsed the Americans in Wartime Museum, showcasing the importance of our mission to honor Americans who have served our nation, in uniform and on the home front, from

World War I to the present.

The following veteran and military-related organizations have endorsed the American Wartime Museum:• AMVETS • Business Executives for National Security (BENS)• Disabled American Veterans (DAV)• Military Officer of America Association (MOAA)• Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of Virginia• The American Legion• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)• Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Virginia

The American Wartime Museum is proud to be endorsed by the following individuals:• The Honorable John McCain, United States Senator• The Honorable Gerald E. Connolly, United States House of

Representatives• The Hon. Charles S. Robb, Former U.S. Senator and Virginia Governor• The Honorable Donald Rumsfeld, Former Secretary of Defense• Col. H.C. “Barney” Barnum, Jr., USMC (Ret.), Medal of Honor recipient• Vice Admiral William J. Hancock, U.S. Navy (Ret.)• General P.X. Kelley, USMC (Ret.), 28th Commandant of the Marine Corps• Lt. Gen. Richard G. Trefry, USA (Ret.)• Major Gen. Randall L. West, USMC (Ret.)

Museum Vehicles in TV Production

What do our military vehicles, Gen. George Patton, Gen. Black Jack Pershing, Gen.

Bernard Montgomery, and West Virginia have in common? They all came together for a TV production in October 2013 about great leaders in wartime. Our Museum supplied the authentic backdrop for the segments on Gen. Patton by providing an M4A1 and M4A3 Sherman, along with an M5A1 Stuart. No computer-generated tanks here--nothing but genuine U.S.-made steel from the 1940s!

The process started in mid-summer when the Museum was contacted by a production company about providing authentic armored vehicles for filming a series about the great leaders of WWII. Since that fits right in with our motto, the Museum was happy to work with them. The production company selected

an M4A1 Sherman, an M4A3 Sherman, and an M5A1 Stuart since the focus of this particular episode was on the great American tanker, Gen. George S. Patton.

We worked with the production company to educate them about the unique logistics of WWII armored vehicles. After all, you just can’t drive a 35-ton tank down the road like it was an everyday commuter car. Meanwhile, our skilled group of staff and volunteers prepared the vehicles for use, verified everything would be historically correct and prepared all the necessary logistics.

The tanks and maintenance truck arrived in West Virginia in early October. After unloading, we saw

a superb re-creation of a WWI battlefield, complete with trench line, bunkers, barbed wire and outposts reflective of the type of combat and “No Man’s Land” seen by Gen. Patton early in his career. After a bit, other actors representing great leaders of the time wandered by, such as Winston Churchill. Multiple segments focusing on the Army career of Gen. Patton were filmed. Shermans rolled over the countryside in a convoy, while the Stuart scampered about in the mud. The growl of tank engines filled the air as our drivers deftly maneuvered the vehicles.

After a week of 12+-hour days, shooting wrapped up and our mechanics began loading up the tanks for the return to the “Tank Farm” in Nokesville. Handshakes were exchanged between new friends. After all, three WWII tanks are a great ice-breaker and conversation starter!

The television program is still in production. We’ll let you know the ultimate name of the program and the airdate on our website at www.NMAW.org.

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Memberships range from $25 per year to $5,000, with a special $75 annual membership for families—a great holiday gift option. If you need a little extra incentive to give the gift of membership:• Join the Museum or gift a membership between $25 and $2,500, and you will be entered in a drawing for a ride in one

of our vintage military vehicles, for Museum merchandise and more. • Join or donate at $2,500 or more, and you will automatically receive a ride in one of our vintage military vehicles—a

rare opportunity in itself.

Also, remember that the Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization so check with your accountant to see if you can deduct your donation or gift to the Museum.

Unique Gift, cont.

Courtesy of Michael P., Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles.Photo credit to Ed Abel.

Preserve Your Story of Service

Our Wartime Oral History Project connects a team of volunteers with American veterans who want to record

the stories of their wartime experience. These interviews are edited into concise videos available for viewing on our YouTube channel. The raw video will also be retained by the Museum as well as the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project and made accessible to researchers and the public.

You can view powerful examples of the oral history interviews by visiting the Museum’s YouTube channel atwww.youtube.com/WartimeMuseum.

Greg Pass, our Oral History Project Manager, and a team of volunteers conduct one-on-one interviews with veterans. To date, our primary focus has been on veterans from World War II and Korea but we have also compiled video histories from more recent conflicts.

We are always looking for veterans to share their stories of service and volunteers to help with the interviewing and editing process. If you are interested, contact Greg Pass at gpass@nmaw.org.

Open House 2013This year’s Museum Open House, held in August, drew thousands of individuals, families, reenactors and military

enthusiasts from near and far. Activities included displays and demonstrations of our military vehicle collection, a K-9 demonstration by the team at Fort Belvoir, tactical demonstrations by the Marine Corps Historical Company, displays by reenactors and military collectors, a panel of distinguished combat veterans, hands-on activities and the chance to learn more about the Museum. Here are a few highlights from the weekend in pictures.

Join Our Cause!To complete our world-class Museum, we need the support of generous friends, partners and Museum members. Having

secured donations for our 70-acre site, our initial site work and our military vehicle collection, we are now in the midst of Phase 2 of our Founding Campaign. Completion of this phase will allow us to design and construct our Orientation Center, two or three Landscapes of War, and our restoration facilities. We hope you will consider supporting the Americans in Wartime Museum in one of the following ways:

1. Join or Renew Your Annual Membership - Complete the information below, or visit our website at www.nmaw.org and click on the “Become a Member” button. Our members are an important part of the team!

2. Donate to the Museum - The Museum is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Gifts of support may take many forms, ranging from a gift or pledge of cash, a gift of appreciated securities, a willed bequest, life insurance benefits or a Tribute Gift in honor of a beloved family member, friend or fellow veteran.

Help us make the Americans in Wartime Museum a reality. You can support our cause by becoming a member, donating or renewing your membership today! Join or make a tax-deductible gift online at www.nmaw.org or mail your membership application to the address below. Make checks payable to “NMAW.” National Museum of Americans in Wartime™8300 Arlington Blvd., Suite G-2Fairfax, VA 22031Phone: 703-662-5774 Your annual membership benefits include invitations to special events, the Museum newsletter, and the knowledge that your gift will help the Museum achieve its mission.

Membership Application1) I Wish to Join or Renew: Amount Bronze $ 25 Family $ 75 Silver $ 100 Gold $ 250 Platinum $ 500 Patron $1,000 Benefactor $2,500 Founder’s Circle $5,000

2) I wish to donate $_________________ to the Museum.

___________________________________________________Name___________________________________________________Billing Address___________________________________________________City State___________________________________________________Zip Phone___________________________________________________Email___________________________________________________Method of PaymentCheck American ExpressVisa DiscoverMasterCard_______________________________________________Credit Card # _______________________________________________Expiration Date CSC Code_______________________________________________Signature Date

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Mr. James Sawicki during his oral history interview.

Photo credit to Larry Tucker.

National Museum of Americans in Wartime™8300 Arlington Blvd., Suite G-2Fairfax, VA 22031

Stay In TouchWant to keep up with what’s happening at the Americans in Wartime Museum? • Visit our website and blog at www.nmaw.org.• Like “Americans in Wartime Museum” on Facebook.• Visit our YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/WartimeMuseum

Contact UsNational Museum of Americans in Wartime™8300 Arlington Blvd., Suite G-2Fairfax, VA 22031703-662-5774www.NMAW.org

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Become a Museum Member! See Page 7 or visit www.nmaw.org for details.