Traveling Veterans' Exhibit

Work continues in the Veteran's Gallery, and though it may seem as if it is moving along slowly there is something changing every day. Walls go up, paint is applied, and artifacts are categorized by era and type. Volunteers, interns, and staff are hard at work every day to make the gallery a reality by early November.

If you visited the gallery before it was closed for renovation, you may remember the cases on the east side of the gallery. Each case was dedicated to a Carver County man who lost his life at war. There were 10 or more cases and included veterans from many eras but ended with the Vietnam War. While these cases will not be included in the new Veterans' Gallery, they will not be retired. The names of the veterans who gave their lives in service will be included in a memorial inside the gallery, and the cases themselves will be inventoried, secured, and sent on the road.

The cases will travel to several locations throughout Carver County, brining to life soldiers who made a difference in the history of our county. Visitors to libraries, government buildings, and museums will be able to see the objects and read the stories of Carver County soldiers.

One such story is that of Matt J. Tschimperle, (September 11, 1911 to December 18, 1944). After only 11 months in the US Navy, Fireman 1st Claass Matt Tschimperle of Victoria lost his life in a storm at sea. A sudden typhoon swamped his ship, the USS Monaghan, while it held a defensive position in the Pacific Ocean. Only six people survived the wreck. One of the survivors, Joseph McCrane, later wrote to Matt's wife Julie to describe what happened: "Matt was a member of the Engineering Department and...showed himself to possess all the qualifications necessary to become an excellent petty officer. I became very well acquainted with Matt as we would often stand our watches together in the fire-room. He often spoke of you and your children and he showed me a picture he had of all of you, with the exception of the newest addition to the family. Matt was a devoted husband, just waiting for the day when this terrible war would end and he could return home."

Erin Anderson
Education Coordinator