The West Haven Veterans Museum will host its Grand Reopening with a day filled with fun and surprises for visitors. The museum will be open at no charge to the public from 10-2 on Saturday, April 13. The day features a “Welcome Back Stubby” program at 11:15 with the unveiling of the one and only portrait of the WW I hero war dog. The portrait has been restored by the Yale Art Galleries Conservation Department for the past year.
Stubby was the subject of a recent animated documentary “Sgt. Stubby; An American Hero”, and is a local “character”. Program attendees will also help welcome a new addition to the museum collection: a large, hand made authentication of “Trench Warfare, World War I,” Stubby included.
The diorama has been especially created for the museum by Joseph J. Buydos in honor of his grandfather Axel Sodergreen, who served in WWI.
The museum has been closed for the winter months because of the construction of the multi-purpose Edward N. Silver Media Center, made possible through a gift of the West Haven Rotary Foundation. The Center library will be used for research, the AV feature for viewing of historic and popular period films, small school groups and programs, etc. The flexibility of the space is endless.
The Stubby celebration will begin with the first 50 families, or individuals, receiving a new commemorative gift. There will be random gift giveaways all day, a “Find Stubby” contest for adults and children, light refreshments, informal tours and will end with a drawing for a Stubby Door Prize basket.
The museum is located at 30 Hood Terrace, across from the new train station. While it is always free to the public because it is volunteer operated, donations are always welcome to help defray basic costs.