Beltrami County Historical Society Celebrates and Honors Veterans in its Special Exhibit and Programs through November 19
Nearly three thousand veterans live in Beltrami County, and thousands more made their homes here in decades past. Now through November 19, Beltrami County Historical Society seeks to share a few of the stories of our veterans in a special exhibit: The Brave Die Never: Honoring Beltrami County Veterans. The exhibit is included with regular museum admission.
The exhibit includes photographs, uniforms, insignia, armaments, and memorabilia from veterans and family of veterans from most United States-involved wars. Items on display include Civil War discharge papers, a bottle of champagne brought back as a gift from World War II, the challenge coins of an Army veteran of the Iraq War, and much more.
The Historical Society is especially honored to present the newly cataloged Tangborn Collection in this exhibit. Private First Class Virgil J. Tangborn was born in 1920 in Nary, MN and attended Bemidji High School. He was drafted in 1943 to service in World War II. He perished at the Invasion of Normandy while rescuing another soldier trapped in a burning truck containing exploding ammunition. Pfc Tangborn was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for gallantry, and is commemorated by a statue in Periers, France. The Historical Society recently received Pfc Tangborn’s collection from his family and many of those items, including his Silver Star and Purple Heart, are now on display.
In addition to the exhibit, the Historical Society is offering a variety of FREE programs by and about Veterans through November 19:
Veterans receive FREE ADMISSION to the museum on Veterans Day, November 11