Bruce Whipple, a proud veteran of Vietnam War, spent several years carrying his private collection of Vietnam War memorabilia to educational institutions, military shows, and other related events. His main objective was to offer younger generations a tangible link to a crucial period in history. Time eventually overtook Whipple’s ability to personally bring his collection to those places. Yet, he remained committed to ensuring his carefully gathered pieces stayed intact and continued to serve their educational purpose.
Whipple found the perfect custodian for his military relics in Brian Mundell, the owner of Veterans Memorial Museum of Terre Haute. The museum had emerged as a stronghold where people could witness various tangible echoes of past wars. Whipple was confident that his donation would be treated with the suitable respect and put to use for enlightening the future generations.
Mundell saw the opportunity presented by Whipple’s donation as a chance to further enhance the museum’s scope. Plans were set in motion to expand the museum’s footprint by 1,000 square feet. This would include the creation of a new section solely devoted to the Vietnam War.
The new portion would be situated in a structure owned by Mundell, located to the east of the present museum. The choice of this location is not only pragmatic but also significantly adds to the architecture of Terre Haute’s monument to past wars.
With the addition of Whipple’s collection to the various artifacts that Mundell has already secured, he hopes to pay a fitting tribute to all those who participated in the war. Plans to christen this section after Whipple is also being discussed, further cementing his contribution to history preservation.
Although a resident of northern Michigan, Bruce Whipple had served a full year, from July 1969 to 1970, in Vietnam. The relics he bequeathed to Mundell comprise his own war kit, which includes uniforms, helmets, and radio equipment. There are also war remnants such as guns and a rocket launcher, tokens he gathered over time.
Mundell’s dedication of this increased space to the Vietnam War and its veterans is fueled by multiple reasons. He recognizes that many soldiers from this war are still among us, unlike their World War II counterparts. Furthermore, he is moved by a desire to express heartfelt gratitude to the Vietnam war veterans.
Mundell wants the veterans to feel recognized and remembered. In his own words, he expressed the need to develop a welcoming atmosphere around the new segment of the museum. He acknowledges the fact that many Vietnam War veterans didn’t receive the warm reception they deserved upon their return home after service.
Bruce Whipple was introduced to Terre Haute by his son Joel Lauritzen, who resides there with his family. Whipple had the chance to visit the Veterans Memorial Museum during one of his visits. Fascinated and impressed, he ended up becoming a regular visitor to the museum on his subsequent visits.
As Whipple’s capacity to personally showcase his collection diminished over time, he started looking for an appropriate place to house it. After contemplating numerous other institutions, he found the Veterans Memorial Museum most fitting. He felt confident that the museum’s management would resist the fragmentation of the collection.
Jennifer Whipple, Bruce’s wife and the spouse of a war veteran, has a deep understanding of the sacrifices made by the soldiers. She admired Mundell, describing him as the ‘ideal person’ to have received the donation. She shared Whipple’s belief in the imperative need to inform the youth about the price at which their liberty has been procured.
Further commenting on the burden of war, she noted how life-changing military experiences can be. She emphasized the drastic changes their lives underwent due to their commitment to safeguarding the nation.
Mundell, echoing these sentiments, revealed that the museum expansion was greatly facilitated by multiple contributions. He defined it as a ‘community effort,’ indicating the widespread investment in the project.
With the collective effort, Mundell anticipates the inauguration of the Vietnam War extension of the museum in about two to three months. This would mark a significant chapter in the preservation and accessibility of military history.