As we remember 9-11, a day that will live forever as one of the most tragic in America's young history, we think of the lives lost, both on that fateful day and in the ten years since, including those servicemen and women who continue to fight to preserve our freedom. It is also important to remember the others who have served our country both in times of war as well as peace. America is the home of the free because of the brave.

Join the Hackettstown Historical Society on Thursday, September 15, 2011 as Raymond Millhime and Martin Fleisher, two American veterans, share their personal experiences in World War II.

Mr. Millhime served with the US Navy on the aircraft carrier USS Bataan at Iwo Jima. He was wounded in action during his service and was awarded the Navy Commendation medal for shooting down a Japanese bomber. Mr. Fleisher served with the US Army Air Force as a bomber pilot. He flew over sixty bombing missions in support of D-Day and until the end of the war in Europe. He was awarded the Air Medal with twelve "Oak Leaf Clusters" for his efforts.

The Hackettstown Historical Society meets in Seay Hall on the campus of historic Centenary College. The meeting begins at 7:30 and is free to Society members. All are welcome; a donation is appreciated from non-members and guests.

For more information on the Historical Society and its events, please call the museum at 908.852.8797.

When my husband and I came to Hackettstown in 2005, we bought an incredible old Victorian home in need of love and attention to restore it back to its original grandeur. I hurried down to the Society to learn all I could about our house, and I was amazed at the treasure I found. At the museum, I opened Pandora's box, not just about my house, but about Hackettstown and it's rich history. I spent so much time at the museum, the Board asked me to become a Trustee. I smile as I remember being called a "young upstart too full of enthusiasm" as I vowed to polish this jewel of a Society and have it shine for all to see.

Over the last 6 years, with the help of so many others, we've established our website and our eNewsletter, created wonderful displays, digitized some of our records, redesigned our resource room, established great rapport with Centenary College and the community, organized the annual Holiday Open House and so much more. Along this journey, I have met so many people who have touched my life and my heart with their own passion for what we do that there are just too many names to mention.

The museum and its collection of artifacts will continue to grow under the watchful eye of Ray Lemasters and other volunteers like Gwen Chaar and Doug Wilcox. Ray taught me so much about this town, and I'm sure I've given him more than my fair share of gray hairs in the process. I will leave the Society in the extraordinary hands of several wonderful women, our Board of Directors, including Judy Truex, who will take over for me as President, Betsy Browder, Kayleen Mitchell, Ursula Nauman, Beth Noble and Bobbi Kurdiz. Through their collective creativity and expertise, I know the Society will continue to travel successfully down the new and exciting path we have charted.

I will miss my (finally) restored house. I will miss this town. But most of all, I will miss the people who live here that I have been proud to call my friends. I hope my time here has made a difference. It has certainly enriched my life more than I could ever have imagined.

Donna Brock
President, Hackettstown Historical Society