My Father's Calendar

Two Septembers ago we spent three weeks in a rented brownstone on T Street. My parents, who live in Calabasas, California, joined us for one of those weeks. During that time they visited the National Museum of American Jewish Military History . Visiting my parents over the weekend, I saw the calendar from the museum hanging on the wall. Since I now live in walking distance I decided to go there for today for an interesting and compelling MAD.

This museum is part of the Dupont-Kalorama Museums Consortium and as an off-the-mall spot doesn't get a tremendous amount of traffic. What a shame. The exhibits are clear and detailed. I was told that the lobby - light-filled with glass walls open to the first floor exhibits - is new. The museum has plans for additional $750 million of renovations and they know that in this economic time it will be difficult.

A few of the other exhibited are devoted to military Women, the Jewish War Veterans' Protest March Against Nazi Germany - 75th Anniversary,and the role of Jewish members of the armed forces in helping post-war Displaced Persons find new homes. A lovely small chapel honors the memory of Joshua L. Goldberg and and exhibit is devoted to the life of Major General Julius Klein, former national commander of the Jewish War Veterans . The Hall of Heroes displays a portrait of each of the Jewish Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and their citations.

The idea of a museum devoted to Jews in the military may seem kind of narrow but the stories of the men and women who served are affecting whether you are Jewish-American or simply American.

A Mother's Grief tells the story of Sanford L. Kahn of Kearny, New Jersey. Objects and photographs show him to us - from photographs of his early childhood - to his high school diploma - to his handwritten letter stating that his 18th birthday was the best day of his life because he was able to enlist - to the letter from the Army to his parents confirming his death in action on July 11, 1944. Through this exhibit, Sanford has become history, but the reality of his 19 years is brought to vivid life though the items on display and serves as one particular emblem that must be multiplied by all those who were lost.

My father, talking about a friend of his killed in the War, says softly, "He missed a whole life". This Military History Museum made me remember how many others did as well.