MILWAUKEE, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS)— This year marks the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, a historic time in US history.
The Milwaukee County War Memorial Center is honoring this year with a new exhibit. Inside the doors of the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center, you’ll find a new exhibit sharing the rich history of Milwaukee and manufacturing during WWII.
Dan Buttery is the War Memorial Center President and CEO and was the one who helped put this exhibit together. He says the goal is to share the importance of Wisconsin manufactures during the war.
“I want that aha moment. I want people to walk through here and say I had no idea, because I think they are surrounded by the greatness, they are surrounded by an area, that sure it was 75 years ago but it still impacts today,” Milwaukee County War Memorial Center President and CEO, Dan Buttery said.
The exhibit features well-known manufactures like Harley Davidson, Johnson Controls, Briggs and Stratton and many more.
“This is something that touched a soldier, a sailor, a marine every day and they produced millions coming out of the manufacturing plant here in Milwaukee,” Buttery says as he speaks about a can opener that was designed here in Milwaukee.
Not only were these products and Wisconsin based companies an integral part in the war, but they also excelled in the way they did it; by winning the prestigious “E award”
“Only four percent of manufactures in the country were receiving of that award. That meant that they met production quality, timeline to get the material deployed to our troops downrange,” Buttery said.
The exhibit also features minorities and women in manufacturing and many other Wisconsin ties from right here on the home front.
The exhibit is on display now and is free to the public.