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A Salute to Freedom: Students at The National WWII Museum

1,069 views · Published 20 May 2013 · 5:12 · Indexed 23 September 2026

Channel: The National WWII Museum · 2013 · Education

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As part of the Grand Opening of the The National WWII Museum's new US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, students from every state and the District of Columbia joined WWII veterans in a special procession at the Dedication Ceremony. These 51 students earned their spots by advancing to the 2012 National History Day Contest and then winning an essay contest asking them to describe their states' contributions to WWII. Their essays are all available with archival photos at http://salutetofreedom.org. 

While in New Orleans, the students were able to visit the Museum's exhibits, tour the French Quarter and Garden District, and attend the Grand Opening Gala. Every student mentioned that it was meeting their WWII veteran that was the highlight of the trip. Students and veterans exchanged contact information, and the students have been keeping their veterans up to date on college plans, scholarship applications, and school projects. 

Sixteen of these students advanced to the 2013 National History Day Contest to be held from June 9-13 in College Park, MD. Many of them used their interest in WWII to create projects that emphasized local contributions to the war effort.

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