The Museum of American Armor on the grounds of Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage, has become one of the most unique museums in the northeast.
Opened in cooperation with Nassau County through a public-private partnership, it features an operational collection of World War II armor that pays tribute to every American who has worn the uniform and those who continue to defend our nation.
Operational armor on display include World War II tanks, artillery, armored cars and weapons that broke the back of the Axis powers some 70 years ago. While housed in a modern 25,000 square foot facility, the museum schedules field operations periodically throughout the year where museum visitors are offered the opportunity to join uniformed living historians in pursuing enemy forces from inside a half-track.
Nassau County Executive Mangano said, “The ability to create an armored column that replicates the sights and sounds of American forces during World War II is one of the most compelling educational tools we have to recount the story of our GIs’ courage, valor and sacrifice. Place it in this setting of vintage farmhouses and country roads so reminiscent of the WWII era Normandy countryside, and you have created a virtual time machine that ensures indelible memories for families.”
The museum founder and president, Lawrence Kadish, explained, “WWII will continue to fascinate current and future generations because the stark depiction of good versus evil is so dramatic. In addition, everyone has someone in their family’s history who fought in the war, survived the carnage or was lost during that conflict. It also reminds us that the current War on Terror still demands American courage in the face of relentless evil.”
Hy Horowitz of East Meadow, a Sherman tanker in General Patton’s 7th Armor Division, was among those who liberated the Buchenwald death camp. Horowitz said, “For the last seven decades, veterans like me have been retelling the stories of valor and liberation so that, as Americans, we can understand what we did on behalf of humanity. It puts our country in perspective and it frames our place in the world. It is now time for a new generation to accept the responsibility of retelling that story so that the world is reminded that America stands for freedom, diversity and democracy.”
Chief Historian Emeritus for the History Channel Dr. Libby O’Connell, a Huntington resident, said, “This museum marks a unique commitment by public and private sectors to preserve and present a seminal chapter in the history of our nation… and our world. It also reflects a commitment to apply a variety of innovative resources to the task of funding the preservation of our history and serves as a national model for similar efforts.”
The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Visit www.museumofamericanarmor.org to find out how to participate in their armor experience or when living historians are scheduled to take to the field.
