Practicing patriotism
A journey through our country’s history

BY CLAY NARRON

People interpret the word “patriotism” in many ways, for it has a different meaning for every individual. This July marks the second anniversary of the National Museum of Patriotism in midtown Atlanta, where you can discover the spirit of America through an unforgettable journey guaranteed to make you proud.

The museum, housed in a big red-white-and-blue-painted building on the corner of 18th and Spring streets in the heart of Atlanta, is filled with educational displays, emotionally moving mementos and multiple military exhibits.

The museum was created and founded by Nicholas D. Snider, whose vision for this type of patriotic museum started 10 years earlier. Snider says that he and the people who made this museum a reality struggled over what it should be called.

He thought of the word “patriotism” and what it meant to him, and his heart did the speaking. He wanted people to experience their own kind of patriotism in a unique museum dedicated to preserving the meaning behind volunteerism, commitment and pure love of one’s country. “Snider’s passion is evident in all aspects of the museum,” says George Wieder, operations director of the facility and an informative and personable tour guide.

Offering inspiring videos and interactive touch-screen stations, the museum also houses part of Snider’s massive military sweetheart jewelry collection. Many of these highly collectible jewelry pieces were carved out of downed military aircraft windshields and the metal from planes. Uniquely displayed, the jewelry collection is contained in glass cases where just the touch of a button allows a complete view of the magnificent pieces on rotating shelves.

Other pieces include jeweled medals, compacts, bracelets and victory pins. The jewelry is surrounded by other mementos of the past such as war propaganda posters and military-uniformed mannequins. The exhibited uniforms and memorabilia are “representative of our military, but not what the museum is all about,” says Wieder.

The museum’s signature exhibit is the Hall of Patriots, where recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and Presidential Medal of Freedom are honored. The four bronze-encrusted statues displayed here honor Georgia’s recipients. The exhibit recognizes both civilian and uniformed patriots for their contributions to community. “Promoting volunteerism and providing a connection between the past and love of country, these exhibits allow us to see our roles and responsibilities as Americans,” says Snider.

Other exhibits include the Symbols of America with audio descriptions of the symbols, such as the Washington Monument, Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore. The Immigrant Experience exhibit, which highlights the many contributions of immigrants, allows visitors to walk through replicas of the Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island and The Golden Gate Bridge. This exhibit is intended to inspire people by hearing and seeing the immigrants’ own stories of sacrifice and success.

Soul-stirring and heart-wrenching videos also tell visitors what patriotism represented in the past and what it means today. These videos are a reflection of what it means to be an American. The museum is not intended to tell anyone how to live and act as an American. You have to figure that out for yourself, says Snider.

One America, Georgia’s only 9/11 memorial, is one of the most memorable and majestic displays honoring the victims and families of Sept. 11, 2001. This display has words from the poem “The Power of One,” by Professor Cheryl Sawyer, and photographic images from that historic day projected onto a flowing waterfall between the two towers representing the World Trade Center. Copies of the poem are available for guests of the museum. This area also honors the heroism of Rick Rescorla, Vietnam veteran and vice president of security for Morgan-Stanley/Dean-Witter, the largest tenant in the World Trade Center. He sacrificed his life while safely evacuating more than 2,700 people.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta. A display dedicated to the spirit of volunteerism honors people who made the Olympics possible. Pictures, certificates of appreciation and many other Olympic items are on display to allow visitors to recall the recent event. Guests can even stand on an original medal platform used in the 1996 Olympic Games—a colorful backdrop for a nice personalized photo. You are allowed to take pictures of anything you want and the museum even sells disposable cameras if you forget yours. A restored 1945 Willys Jeep is on display where you can take pictures of people seated inside or standing next to it. “The Jeep is a favorite for visiting veterans of WWII,” says Wieder.

The museum also helps to support the USO (United Service Organization) through Project Video Connect. This free service enables family and friends to send a video e-mail to service members anywhere in the world. The video e-mail can be up to 10 minutes in length; all you need is the service member’s e-mail address.

Since the museum receives no federal funding, most contributions come from businesses and donors. Bernie Marcus, founder of The Home Depot and the Georgia Aquarium, was one of the earliest contributors. To help with expenses, the museum often opens its doors for special events and parties. The staff says the collection is in a wonderful space, but possibly next year, the museum will find itself in a new home in Centennial Park for increased business and exposure.

Clay Narron, a recent graduate of Georgia State University, works as a freelance writer in Atlanta.

The National Museum of Patriotism

The National Museum of Patriotism, 1405 Spring St. N.W., Atlanta, is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Ticket prices for adults (19 to 64) are $12, seniors (ages 65 and older) are $10, students (ages 7-18) are $10 and children ages 6 and under are free. Group tours are available by reservation, and private function rentals are available. The museum will be open Tuesday, July Fourth. Parking is free.

For more information, visit www.museumofpatriotism.org or call (404) 875-0691.