Vt. war museum honors blacks

POWNAL, Vt. - Down a dirt driveway, in one of the whitest states in the nation, is a museum dedicated to the experiences of black servicemen and women during World War II.

The Museum of Black World War II History is run by Bruce Bird, a white, retired factory worker who sold his home and used the proceeds to convert a two-room, 19th-century schoolhouse into the museum. It opened in June 2006, and has display cases filled with World War II weapons, models of tanks and aircraft, and other memorabilia.

At best, it gets a handful of visitors a week. Bird doesn't know where the money will come from to pay his next fuel oil bill.

But he's steadfast in his resolve to recognize the service and sacrifice of more than 1.1 million black servicemen and women who had to fight to fight for their country in WWII or fill support jobs in every theater of war while suffering the indignities of institutional racism.

"We don't get enough people yet," Bird said. "With any museum, you essentially need a rich sponsor. We haven't found one yet. I contend this museum should be run by a rich, famous black veteran, none of which I am."

But Bird's build-it-and-they-will-come approach appears to be working, at least a little bit.

A black woman from New Hampshire whose father was killed in World War II while driving a truck in France donates the museum's website.

Bird's efforts are also being recognized by others working to promote the contributions of black service members. Out of the blue, he was invited to a Washington ceremony honoring the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of black aviators.

"I think the museum is a great thing," said Gregory Black, a retired US Navy officer who runs blackmilitaryworld.com and has a link to the Vermont museum from his site.