Join us Aug. 10-12 for the annual Ernie Pyle Fireman’s Festival in Dana, Indiana. Schedule here.
Uncategorized
Ernie Pyle WWII Museum Podcast: Interview with author David Chrisinger
Join Doug Hess for the latest episode of the Ernie Pyle WWII Museum podcast has been released with author David Chrisinger, author of “The Soldier’s Truth.” — beautiful reckoning with the life and work of the legendary journalist Ernie Pyle. Listen to this and other episodes here.
Friends of Ernie Pyle host Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall
Click here to view Dennis Elliott’s video commemorating the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall’s visit to Vermillion County.The Wall attracted hundreds of volunteers and thousands of visitors during the three-day exhibit.
9/11, Afghanistan & Iraq war memorials added to Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall event
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall’s visit to Vermillion County also includes 9/11, Afghanistan & Iraq war memorials. This event is brought to west central Indiana by the Ernie Pyle WWII Museum and the Friends of Ernie Pyle.
Info here.
Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall Schedule of Events June 9-11
The friends of Ernie Pyle are hosting the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall at the International Paper Family Park, 4840 S. County Rd. 360 E. in Hillsdale, Indiana. Hillsdale is in West Central Indiana — about seven miles East of the Ernie Pyle WWII Museum in Dana.
The Wall will be open to the public 24 hours a day from 9 a.m. Friday, June 9 through 9 p.m. Sunday, June 11. More information and a map of the location here.
Photo by Maureen Welsh.
Friends of Ernie Pyle receive Brouilletts Creek Solar community grant
June 1, 2023, Clinton, IN – Apex Clean Energy is pleased to announce three local groups as the recipients of the latest round of Brouilletts Creek Solar community grants – the South Vermillion Middle School (SVMS) Robotics Team, Friends of Ernie Pyle, and Town of Fairview Park.
The Community Grant program was launched in 2022 to support local organizations focused on improving our community in the following areas: Health & Recreation, Economic Development, Environmental Sustainability, and Education. Since its launch, the program has provided nearly $40,000 in grants to 14 worthy community causes.
Also receiving grant funding is The Friends of Ernie Pyle, a charitable, non-profit organization created to preserve the legacy of the Pulitzer Prize-winning World War II Correspondent Ernie Pyle and the generation that he covered as a reporter. The organization operates the World War II Museum in Dana, IN. The museum includes the Elder-Pyle farmhouse, which is the birth home of Pyle, and two Quonset huts that chronicle Pyle’s work as a war correspondent and shine a light on local veterans of World War II and the community’s support of the war effort.
Steve Key, President of the Friends of Ernie Pyle Development Fund, said “The Friends of Ernie Pyle greatly appreciate the support of Apex Clean Energy in our effort to improve the visitor experience to the Ernie Pyle World War II Museum. The donation helps provide permanent, ADA-accessible restrooms. The restrooms are one phase of an Ernie Pyle & Veterans Memorial Park that eventually call for a performance stage, landscaping and gardens, a display of Armed Services flags, and statue of the famed war correspondent who told the stories of the common soldier.”
Development Manager Meagan Van Vuren of Apex Clean Energy shared, “The goal of the Community Grant Program is to fund projects and programs that benefit the whole community. We’re thrilled to support these amazing organizations and the dedicated community leaders who are bringing these projects to life.”
Brouilletts Creek Solar’s ongoing commitment is to be a strong community partner to the residents, businesses, and community organizations working to improve Vermillion County. The program will continue to support pressing community needs and local organizations making a meaningful impact. To learn more or apply for a future grant, visit www.brouillettscreeksolar.com/grant.
About Brouilletts Creek Solar: A project of Apex Clean Energy, Brouilletts Creek Solar is a proposed solar energy project that is expected to have the capacity to generate up to 200MW of homegrown Indiana clean energy, enough to power close to 39,000 American homes while diversifying the local economy and supporting jobs in the community.
Situated in rural Vermillion County, the location has access to existing transmission lines on open private land and is highly suitable for a solar energy project. If approved, the project would create tens of millions of dollars in construction spending and millions more in new revenue for local governments.
For more information visit www.brouillettscreeksolar.com.
Volunteer now to help with The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall June 9-11
This summer, the Friends of Ernie Pyle are bringing The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Vermillion County. The Wall will be on exhibit June 9-11 at the International Paper Family Park, 4840 S County Rd 360 E in Hillsdale. There are many opportunities to volunteer and assist with this important event.
For more information on The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall’s visit to Vermillion County, click here.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Becky Holbert at 812-249-5780. Sponsorship form here.
For more information on the wall, visit travelingwall.us. Photo by Maureen Welsh.
Friends of Ernie Pyle to host The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall
Schedule of events
Sign up now to volunteer
Sponsorship opportunities available
The Friends of Ernie Pyle have the privilege of hosting The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall in Vermillion County on June 9-11. The wall will be on exhibit at the International Paper Family Park, 4840 S County Rd 360 E in Hillsdale.
The Wall is a 3/5 scale of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., it stands six feet tall at the center and covers almost 300 feet from end to end. The Wall contains the more than 58,300 American military members who died during the conflict. It stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made during the Vietnam War. It was made for the purpose of helping heal and rekindle friendships and to allow people the opportunity to visit loved ones in their hometown who otherwise may not be able to make the trip to Washington, D.C.
The Wall will be open to the public 24 hours a day from 9 a.m. Friday, June 9 through 9 p.m. Sunday, June 11.
“Ernie Pyle was the voice of the soldiers in World War II,” said Friends of Ernie Pyle president Steve Key. “It was he who successfully lobbied for combat pay for the Armed Forces. We think it’s only appropriate to bring this tribute to those who paid the last full measure for our country during the Vietnam War to west central Indiana.
The Friends of Ernie Pyle operate the Ernie Pyle World War II Museum in Dana and are dedicated to preserving the legacy of the most famous World War II correspondent and the generation of Americans that he wrote about before and during the war.
The Friends want the traveling wall visit to be an event that all those in the area can enjoy and take ownership.
There are opportunities for businesses, organizations, and individuals to display their support for not only those who died for the United States during the Vietnam War, but for the West Central Indiana community by helping this prestigious event to occur.
The Friends of Ernie Pyle are seeking sponsors to help defray the cost of bringing The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to our part of the state and volunteers to help with the preparation of the display grounds.
Sponsors’ monetary donations will be recognized on banners, advertising and in press releases concerning The Vietnam Memorial Wall’s stay in Vermillion County. Organizations will also receive recognition for their help either with volunteers or materials needed for this patriotic and reverent display.
Key asks interested businesses, organizations, and individuals to consider how they can best assist the Friends of Ernie Pyle in making The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall visit a memorable one for West Central Indiana. Email president@erniepyle.org for more information on how you can be a part of this memorable occasion.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Becky Holbert at 812-249-5780. Sponsorship form here.
For more information on the wall, visit travelingwall.us. Photo by Maureen Welsh.
FEP receives $15,000 grant to fund accessible restrooms for museum
The Vermillion County Community Foundation is awarding a $15,000 grant for a project to add permanent restrooms that will be accessible to those with disabilities to the Ernie Pyle World War II Museum.
The award is through the Creative Placemaking Grantmaking Initiative 2.0.
The foundation presented a check to the FEP on Tuesday, March 21, at the Vermillion County Public Library in Newport, Indiana during a ceremony honoring other grant recipients.
“The Friends of Ernie Pyle are grateful for this generous grant from the Vermillion County Community Foundation,” said Steve Key, FEP president.
“We are excited about the prospect of creating a restroom building that will not only enhance the museum visitor experience, but create an asset that can be used by the community.”
