Scotia Glenville Traveling Children’s Museum holds event to honor veterans and raises money
Step back to the 1940s and experience what it might have been like to be at a USO canteen.
The Scotia Glenville Traveling Children’s Museum is transforming the Glen Sanders Mansion on Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, to what a United Service Organizations canteen might have looked like in the 1940s. The event is a way to raise funds for the museum’s programs offered to children across the Capital District.
The date available was Veterans Day and it just seemed like a good connection, said Diana Bennett, director of the museum. `The USO canteen is a great example of how everyone pitched in during World War II.`
To build the atmosphere of a traditional canteen, Bennett said there would be a DJ playing big band tunes, and the food, which will be made by Mansion chefs, aims to be simple, with choices such as little burgers and onion ring towers. There will also be artifacts the museum has used to build the setting of a canteen.
Bennett said the response so far has been great, with nearly 50 people registered by the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 2. Of those registers, some are veterans who are excited for the event.
`I know some are coming, and I know there is a group coming all in costume of the 1940’s clothing,` said Bennett. `We have one senior citizen Marine that said he is going to try and squeeze himself back into his uniform.`
Bennett said he encourages everyone attending the event to dress in outfits reminiscent of the time period. Bennett said she is planning to wear a polka-dot dress.
Even with the difficult economy, Bennett said the museum is staying afloat thanks, in part, to donations throughout the year. This is the museum’s one fundraising event of the year.
`People talk about how we’re in hard times and compare it to the earlier part of the last century, but there were good times too,` said Bennett. `We are just hoping to bring back that feeling of working together.`
There will also be a `scrap metal drive,` reminiscent of the time period.
`During World War II there were scrap metal drives, were people donated pots and pans,` said Bennett. `I know a lot of people that talk about getting rid of their broken gold, but never get around to taking it.`
Guests are encouraged to bring their own gold and silver that is broken or unwanted, and there will be an appraiser to test the weight and metal. The owner can then be issued a check on the spot for their goods and the museum will receive 15 percent of the proceeds.
In addition there will also be an auction with a variety of offerings, including an item from Pattersonville Furniture, tickets to the Great Escape, tickets to Howe’s Caverns, local sports team items, tickets to Proctors and more.
Bennett said the museum is important because it provides children with hands-on learning activities. She also said it is the economical choice for schools facing cuts.
`We are the only all-traveling children’s museum in the country at a time when schools have cut back their funding for field trips,` she said. `As a museum that lets the children touch museum items, they get worn and broken. They are being moved all over the Capital Region and being used.`
The event will begin on Nov. 11 with roll call at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $25. Reservations can be made by calling 346-1764 or e-mailing [email protected], through Friday, Nov. 5.
`People can celebrate Veterans Day while helping a small local non-profit that provides services to the schools in the area,` she said. `The World War II veterans I know are people that like to have fun.“