Museum plans Pearl Harbor, WWII day

It was a Sunday afternoon, Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor thrust the United States into the fighing of World War II.

This Sunday, Dec. 7, the Plymouth County Historical Museum will host the program "Pearl Harbor, World War II Christmas Memories" at 2 p.m. in the museum's "Old Central" Gym in Le Mars.

Featured speakers at the open house will be the World War II veterans from Plymouth County who recently participated in the Siouxland Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., where they visited the World War II memorial.

The veterans include: Rudy Adler, Virgil Brockel, Don Collins, Ken Lubben and Clay Nemmers, all of Le Mars; Bob Bleil, Don Bleil, Warren Hobbs, Charles Knudsen and Dale Murray, all of Kingsley; and Leo Camerer of Hinton.

Cathy Mueller of Sioux City organized the Honor Flight and is working on another one for 2009.

Also on Sunday, John Hart of rural Le Mars will speak about his World War II experiences.

The Le Mars American Legion, under the direction of commander Larry Baer, will advance the colors Sunday.

Daniel Landsness of Le Mars, a museum volunteer, will serve as emcee.

Wayne Thieman, past commander and member of Le Mars American Legion, who accompanied the honor flight, will show slides of the trip.

Museum exhibit manager Tom Munson will provide a World War II exhibit.

The Christmas open house will feature a silent auction for an L- Stinson aircraft ride. The airplane ride will be out of Council Bluffs and will be redeemable in 2009. The rider must be 9 years or older.

The Le Mars American Legion Auxiliary will serve refreshments in the Gym lobby following the program.

The Museum, located at 335 First Ave. S.W., Le Mars, will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. All five floors of exhibits are accessible by elevator, including the Military Room on the third floor.

Also featured Sunday will be the Museum Store in the Welcome Room, along with the newly established Museum Mini-Market located in the adjacent Home Room.

Admission to the museum is free, but free-will donations are encouraged.