Heroes Hall, OC Fair & Event Center's veterans museum dedicated to the stories of those who serve, will celebrate its second anniversary at an event on Saturday, Feb. 16.
The museum opened in February 15 2017, the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Santa Ana Army Air Base on which it stands.
Heroes Hall next month also welcomes a brand-new exhibit, Victory From Within: The American Prisoner of War Experience. This traveling exhibit was created by the National Park Service and explores four themes: capture, prison life, those who wait and freedom.
As part of the exhibit, visitors will hear the tragic yet inspirational stories of four former POWs who currently live in Orange County.
- George Emerson, 93, of Huntington Beach, POW in Germany during WWI
- Dan Oldewage, 93, of Orange, POW in North Korea
- Lloyd L. Roberts, 90, of Huntington Beach, POW in North Korea
- Edison Miller, 87, of Irvine, POW in North Vietnam (pictured
Each of these men spent months in captivity and they are now ready to tell their stories.
"Every prisoner had a harrowing experience to share," Emerson said. "And that is how we spent much of our time, telling capture stories." Emerson was imprisoned after he was jettisoned from his airplane during a mid-air collision in 1945 and spent three months in a POW camp in Moosburg, Germany.
Roberts was held captive for 27 months after the Chinese army attacked his infantry unit in 1951. "Not a day goes by that something doesn't remind me of prison camp," Roberts said. "It's usually food. I swore I would never waste a morsel of food after that experience."
Victory From Within will shed light on the tough topic of POWs, teaching visitors that most Americans who have been prisoners of war are ordinary people placed in extraordinary circumstances. Their stories are an inspiring chapter of history and show the immense capacity of the human spirit to overcome adversity and find hope in even the darkest places.
SPECIAL EVENT
On Saturday, Feb. 16, the public is invited to Heroes Hall for a free celebration commemorating its second anniversary and the grand opening of Victory From Within. POWs Emerson, Oldewage, Roberts and Miller will each be honored during an opening ceremony.
Heroes Hall's 2nd Anniversary & Exhibit Grand Opening
When: Saturday, Feb. 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Heroes Hall at OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
Free admission and parking; refreshments, music and tours will be provided.
