Military Memorials

We were taking a walk along the waterfront in Geneva a few days after we got to the area, and we stumbled onto a gathering in the park.

There was a motorcycle color guard and some folks in old-style uniforms, who we found out later were American Legion Doughboys.

The source of the term, “Doughboys”, is a bit of a mystery, but it was commonly used to refer to members of the US Armed Forces during WW1.

The group was gathered for the dedication of the new Blue Star Memorial Marker that was the result of months of work by the local garden club.

As a Blue Star family ourselves, we were really moved by the ceremony.

Following the ceremony, the garden club had refreshments available, so we stayed and had a few cookies.

Tom couldn’t resist the motorcycles!

Another day, we were out for a drive and came across the Sampson Military Museum.

The land on the eastern shore of Lake Seneca is now Sampson State Park, but during WW2 it was the nation’s Naval Training Base (Boot Camp).

It was later used as an Air Force Training Base in the 1950s.

Veterans from both groups, who had completed their training at the Sampson Base, donated all of the exhibits on display in the Museum.

The tour starts with the Navy . . .

The first room demonstrates what it was like to go to Boot Camp during WW2, with uniform displays,

facilities,

and even a Thanksgiving Day menu.

Nicolas said that the food in Boot Camp was awesome . . . and I don’t think they limited milk or dessert!!

The next area of the Navy Museum included frames photographs of many of the Sailors who had trained here, as well as memorabilia from WW2.

A quilted memorial of Sampson Sailors.

There were even a few interactive displays.

and a WW2 ship’s anchor.

We passed through the courtyard,

and entered the Air Force portion of the Museum.

Our last stop in the Museum was the Brig.

Yeah, I let him back out!!

Outside, he played with the big guns,

and we viewed the memorials.

It was a nice little museum, and an interesting piece of history.

Today, it’s a beautiful state park with a very nice campground.