A number of exhibitions commemorating aspects of World War II are now on view at the National Museum of American History. I would like to devote this month's Perspectives to three of them because each evidences the Smithsonian's concern for meaningful events in our national history and because each one is entirely different from the others in its approach. Dog tags, campaign ribbons, medals, bayonets and other World War II artifacts are displayed closely together and in profusion.
Accompanying text provides some background.
This is a step away from the more traditional kinds of military exhibits that might show numerous uniforms, rifles and the like but are devoid of context. This exhibit evokes memories for those who served in the military during the time. But it tells no stories, and it is hard for those who were not in the Armed Forces to relate intimately to the objects. They are interesting but not deeply meaningful. This is a collection of everyday objects used by people at war and on the home front, such as a Jeep, posters, books and a host of other ordinary objects.