Jewish War Veterans Mo-Kan Post 605 (JWV) announced plans to remodel and rotate items in its two museum display cases at the Jewish Community Campus.
The two cases, located between Ram’s Cafe and Jewish Family Services off the lobby of the campus, contain historically important items and information from and pertaining to local Jewish war veterans.
In 1988, based on an idea by Chester B. Kaplan and Aaron Braeman, plans were set to create the Jewish War Veterans Museum. They felt that the Jewish Veterans of Kansas who fought for our country deserved recognition. JWV held fundraising events, including a phone-a-thon, looking for cash donations and memorabilia that could be donated or loaned for cases. The physical space was provided by the Jewish Community Campus.
The original plan was to rotate the exhibit periodically and incorporate other items, according to Anita Loeb, the past museum director, in 1991. Currently, JWV members have started to inventory the cases, and, with professional help, are planning to update the display.
JWV is now accepting donations for inclusion with emphasis on the Vietnam War era and beyond. The case was set up mostly with World War I and World War II memorabilia. The organization is now seeking donations to include the periods of the Korean, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Persian Gulf Wars.
Those wishing to contribute a military memorabilia donation can email for more information. The organization hopes to incorporate donations into the cases whenever possible, but space is limited. Once donated, memorabilia becomes the property of Jewish War Veterans MO-KAN Post 605.
Monetary donations to help with the remodel can be made directly to the Jewish Community Foundation (5801 W. 115th St. #104, Overland Park, KS 66211), designated for the Jewish War Veterans Museum.
