The Greater Middletown Military Museum, Inc.

08/27/2026

Lost & Found: Blue VBT water bottle. If you left this at the Museum yesterday, please come in and reclaim it.

08/22/2026

Due to weather, the Middletown Symphonic Band concert in Veterans Memorial Park, scheduled for Saturday August 22nd is postponed and will be rescheduled. Please check back for the new date.

08/19/2026

We have a new item in our store, perfect for the Semiquincentenial: Bennington Flags! This historic flag is said to have been flown at the Battle of Bennington in August 1777, by Nathaniel Fillmore, grandfather of Millard Fillmore, 13th President of the United States. The Battle was fought across the border in New York by colonial militias to prevent the British from seizing military supplies stored in Bennington, Vermont. Some doubt that the flag was actually at the battle, although Nathaniel did fight in the battle. Documentation for the flag only goes back to the Fillmore family on the 50th Anniversary of Independence in 1826, and the flag may have been made as a commemorative banner. Whatever the origin, it is an historic US flag, and we have them for sale. Note that this flag starts with a white stripe at the top, rather than the regular red stripe.
Another historic flag that was documented to be at that battle was used by the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont, who also fought there. They were originally formed to protect western New Hampshire from New Yorkers trying to seize land in the area. But that is another story.

Sources: www.LibertyFlags.com, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/maps/bennington-aug-16-1777;

08/18/2026

We have another Mystery Donation. As part of the donation from the family of Joseph Salvatore Cannata, 1st Sergeant 169th Inf, WWII, we have a medal on a gray ribbon with the 169th Unit Insignia on the medal. Our best guess is that it is a commemorative medal from the 169th Infantry, possibly a retirement medal? If any of our followers have information about it, please let us know.

08/17/2026

The cost of electricity in Connecticut has become exorbitant. In an effort to save money, the Museum has been trying to obtain quotes for installing solar panels on the Museum. Unfortunately, we're having difficulty finding an installer willing to work with us. We have contacted a number of local companies and been told that they only do residential, or the system we need is too small for them to install. We have contacted Everource, but have gotten no help in finding an installer. If anyone knows of a solar installer who is willing to install a 'small' system on a non-residential building, please contact the Museum. [email protected] or 860-788-7215. We need a 19kW system to meet our needs.

08/06/2026

FROM THE ARCHIVES:

In 1942 in New York City a group of artists interested in using their talents to help the war effort founded Artists for Victory, Inc. (AVF). The group sponsored the National War Poster Competition (NWPC) to generate artwork that could impassion Americans on the home-front by communicating the war as a response to an existential threat. The themes for the competition, inspired by a State of the Union Address by FDR, were Production, War Bonds, The Nature of the Enemy, Loose Talk, Slave World – Or Free World?, The People Are on the March, “Deliver us from Evil,” and Sacrifice. The winning 200 posters were exhibited at The Museum of Modern Art and circulated around the United States.

Here at the Museum, we have replicas of 44 posters from the NWPC reproduced as a set of large stamps. The stamps present a political atmosphere steeped in terror and dread. A few lighter posters promoting production at home are heavily contrasted by graphic portrayals of German and Japanese violence. Rather than bolster the “American spirit,” many of these artists chose to define American values in contrast to Na**sm and the Japanese. In one poster by Lionel S. Reiss, a swastika-engraved dagger shatters the stained-glass window of a church. It announces “This Is the Enemy” and is accompanied by the slogan “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!”

These posters provided an answer to Americans about why we were fighting and who we were fighting against, even as the battlefields clamored across the sea and thousands of miles away. They delivered strong emotions in order to inspire resolution and sacrifice. See some posters from the collection below or stop by the Museum to view the entire set.

08/06/2026

Congratulations to Museum Director Phil Cacciola, for the recognition of his many years of service to the citizens of Middletown!

Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) awarded the inaugural Third Congressional District Veteran Impact Award to Colonel Phil Cacciola of Middletown, Connecticut. The Veteran Impact Award was created to honor veterans in Connecticut’s Third District who continue to make a positive impact in th...

07/30/2026

Join us for some great music! Bring a picnic.

🇺🇸🎶 New Concerts Coming to Veteran's Memorial Park! 🎶🇺🇸

We're excited to announce two special outdoor concerts at the Greater Middletown Military Museum at Veteran's Memorial Park!

📅 Friday, August 22 – 5:00 PM

📅 Friday, September 12 – 5:00 PM

📍 Greater Middletown Military Museum at Veteran's Memorial Park, 200 Walnut Grove Road, Middletown, CT

Bring a lawn chair, gather your family and friends, and enjoy an evening of live concert band music in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome!

These concerts are made possible by a generous grant from the Middletown Commission on the Arts and the City of Middletown.

We are grateful for their support in bringing live music to our community and we hope to see you there!

07/30/2026

CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY:

In 1943 1st Lieutenant Carl Holmstrom boarded a B17 Flying Fortress for his first mission. His career as a bombardier, however, came to an abrupt end when the plane crash-landed in the Tunisian desert. Holmstrom (who was injured but survived) and his crew mates were captured by German troops. They were sent to a prison hospital and later transferred to Stalag Luft 3 prisoner of war camp.

Prior to enlisting in the army, Holmstrom studied calligraphy at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Utilizing his skills as an artist, he began to sketch his surroundings in the camps. His sketches and watercolors offer a rare, authentic glimpse into a world with no cameras or recording devices. After a year of imprisonment, the soldiers were ordered to pack their things and march through the coldest German winter in 50 years. Rather than pack essential extra food and clothing, Holmstrom stuffed his bag with pictures. It is thanks to his determination to record and preserve his artwork of the POW camps that we have such detailed insights into the environment today. Holmstrom also served as the camp forger, creating maps for prisoners planning to escape. The prisoner escape from Stalag Luft 3 was the inspiration for the movie “The Great Escape.”

After the war, Holmstrom published a book of his sketches titled "Kriegie Life," which is in our museum library. The book and copies of his drawings were donated by the Holmstrom family. His drawings also served as a model for reproductions of cooking utensils made for the Museum by students at Vinal Technical High School in Middletown. Lt. Holmstrom grew up in Branford, CT and raised his family in Cheshire, CT.

07/23/2026

CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY:

The tradition of artistically handcrafting war souvenirs goes back to ancient times, but the practice flourished during World War I. This was when the term “trench art” was coined. Some of the most common materials used were bullets and shell casings turned into letter openers, ashtrays, matchbox covers, lighters, vases, love tokens, and jewelry. Trench art can provide a glimpse into how soldiers and people in war-ravaged areas used creativity as an outlet during periods of extreme conflict and stress. Here at the Museum, we have a collection of unique trench art from throughout the years.

One artistically altered artillery shell pays tribute to the Battle of Verdun, 1918. An embossed oak tree branch wraps around the greater part of the shell. This motif may refer to the vast numbers of oak trees destroyed in the region during the 302-day battle two years earlier in 1916. The region saw renewed action in 1918 as a launching point for the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, during which 37 French and American divisions aimed to cut off the entire German 2nd Army.

Two beautifully carved candlestick holders are also inscribed with “Verdun,” but lack a specific year. These feature detailed etchings of flowers and a rippling effect around the rim. Another candlestick holder is highly ornamental and required the soldering of additional decorative pieces. It features an emblem with what appears to be a large ship, but no other identifiable information.

These pieces and more are out-on-loan to the Museum. We are appreciative to be able to display them! Pay us a visit to learn more about the unique practice of trench art.