FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: 1LT Jarrett Feldman, Curator
National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey
PO Box 277
Sea Girt, NJ 08750-0277
Phone: 732-974-5966
Fax: 732-974-5984
jarrett.l.feldman@us.army.mil
Civil War Exhibit and Heritage meeting at Sea Girt
The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey, located at the Sea Girt National Guard Training Center, Sea Girt Avenue and Camp Road, Sea Girt NJ, is proud to announce the opening of its new exhibit “Civil War New Jersey” on March 22, 2008. The exhibit includes artifacts, photos and artwork associated with New Jersey's role in the war, and will be held in conjunction with the New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association's (NJCWHA) Annual Meeting. The NJCWHA, along with George A. Custer Camp, Sons of Union Veterans, rendered significant assistance to the museum in the preparation of the exhibit.
The exhibit features a number of rare relics. They include a Mann patent cartridge box carried during the war by a soldier from the 15th New Jersey Infantry, a testament carried by another soldier from the 15th and memorabilia associated with New Jersey Medal of Honor winner and National Guard officer J. Madison Drake of Elizabeth, all on loan from the John Kuhl collection. A mannequin portrays a soldier of the 13th New Jersey Infantry as he would have looked during General William T. Sherman’s March to the Sea in the fall of 1864. Following the Civil War many veterans, joined the National Guard. In recognition of this the museum has enhanced the exhibit with a rare original uniform and equipment from the postwar period, on loan from the Ronald DaSilva collection. Nationally renowned military artist Don Troiani has granted the museum use of his New Jersey related artwork, which is also included in the display.
The NJCWHA meeting is open to the public and will feature a color guard from the 13th New Jersey Volunteers uniformed and equipped as the original regiment was in 1864. Featured speaker Thomas Fox will discuss his new book. "Drummer Boy Willie McGee: Civil War Hero and Fraud," detailing the remarkably checkered career of McGee, a Newark boy, Medal of Honor winner and rogue who served in the 33rd New Jersey Infantry. The meeting will be held from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and the museum will be open to visitors from 10 am until 3 pm. For additional information please call 732-974-5966.
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