WWII 75th Anniversary Commemoration

wwII

During the 75th Anniversary of WWII, the Town has endeavored to remember, document, and commemorate the role that Winchester men and women played in the services and on the home front. We invite anyone with any WWII interests, collections, recollections, or expertise to contribute to our projects. Contributions will also be welcome after the anniversary has concluded.

CONTACT US

 Email the Archival Center

WANTED

  • Stories, whether oral, written, printed, or posted
  • Photographs (scans accepted) for a Wall of Honor and for our historical records
  • Memorabilia, whether donated, copied, or loaned for displays
  • Any other information or documentation of the times and activities

PROJECTS/NEWS / EVENTS

  • WALL OF HONOR. Encouraged by the Spirit of ’45 a Wall of Honor has been assembled. This project’s goal is to document the veterans whose names are on the Roll of Honor with photographs. All WWII veterans who enlisted from Winchester and their families are invited to contribute photographs. Read more in the Winchester Star and Daily Times Chronicle. 
  • As part of the observances of the 75th anniversary of the Siege of Bastogne, a Belgian television station has made a three-minute report about Winchester war hero John D. Hanlon and the Belgian bed sheets which helped save American lives. It includes historic photographs and film footage of soldiers donning and wearing sheets, plus views of Hemroulle, and of the last known remaining pair of sheets.To watch it, click here.
  • 500 SHEETS: Lt. Col. John D. Hanlon’s Debt of Honor is now available directly from the printer 
  • "VICTORY ON THE HOME FRONT - WINCHESTER DURING WORLD WAR II," a talk by Ellen Knight in honor of Veterans Day 2017 may be viewed on demand at the WinCAM Web site. The program is illustrated with many unique photos and documents in the collections in the Winchester Archival Center. This program was supported in part by a grant from the Winchester Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
  • "REMEMBERING THE 1940s," a video/oral history project active in 2016 and 2017, resulted in a student documentary. It may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mOikZYFYK0
  • WINCHESTER WAR RECORDS - WORLD WAR II. An annotated database of WWII veterans is being produced as a permanent record for the Archival Center.
  • VETERANS DAY 2016 was the official start of the Town’s observance of the anniversary. Veterans Day 2017 recognized WWII Veterans with photo displays which became the start of a Wall of Honor, also featured on Veterans Day in 2018 and 2019. Unfortunately, the pandemic of 2020 has precluded any major closing activities.

LIST OF WWII VETERANS NAMES ON THE VETERANS MEMORIAL

WINCHESTER STORIES IN THE NEWS & IN PRINT

VFW POST 3719 WINCHESTER

WWII LINKS