Raleigh debuts new tribute to local World War II veterans
RALEIGH, NC (WTVD) -- Raleigh has a new and special tribute to local WWII veterans.
Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane joined with the mayor from Raleigh's sister city in France to mark the opening of a special exhibit at the City Museum.
When you see and hear "Our War," the voices of Raleigh's WWII veterans, you appreciate the sacrifices of all who served.
"Ain't but a few of us left," said Ed Curtis, a WWII veteran. "You would think there would be a whole lot of folks, but there aren't but a few."
That's especially poignant on the day after the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
The mayor of Raleigh's sister city in France traveled to North Carolina for the exhibit's opening.
"In order to honor the veterans, because we have common values to fight for," said Phillippe Marini, mayor of Compiegne.
The exhibit includes a candid look at the America men like Ed Curtis and Benny McKoy fought for, a nation they loved in spite of the institutionalized racism of that era.
"It feels good today, very good," McKoy said. "I'm proud of what I did."
There's a timeline at the museum that takes you through the experiences of other military veterans who returned to Raleigh and continued to fight for equal accommodations. That includes former Wake County Commissioner Harold Webb, who served as a Tuskegee Airman during World War II. And their descendants were there too, filled with pride.
"Certain things they could not do back in America, and they still fought, they still fought," said Leroy C. Brooks, the nephew of Ed Curtis. "They fought, they served, they took orders."
"He brought back pictures on top of pictures that I put together in a scrap book," said Rose Velez, the daughter of Ed Curtis.
You'll see those pictures and much more when you visit the exhibit at the Raleigh City Museum.
