On June 6, 2025, the National World War II Museum in New Orleans will celebrate its 25th anniversary. That’s an important date in World War II history; it was the date of the D-Day invasion in Europe in 1944.
I returned to the museum on Memorial Day to attend a Paver Visitation Day. It fell on Memorial Day, when we honor those who gave their lives defending freedom.
The museum is a living tribute to all those who served in World War II. Unfortunately, that group of individuals grows smaller each day. The museum recently opened an exhibit called “Voices from the Front.” You can interact with veterans and civilians who served. It is fascinating to ‘speak’ with these individuals as they respond to the questions you pose. They may not be able to answer every question, but the stories they tell can be breathtaking. Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams, a Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipient who fought on Iwo Jima, goes into detail about the battle. We lost Woody in 2022 at the age of 98, but his story will always remain with us.
Honoring those who fought
I attended the Paver Visitation Day to honor my dad, Charles L. Scott, who served as a Marine in the Pacific theater in 1944. I didn’t know what to expect. I went to the museum’s website to locate his paver. It was installed next to the Freedom Pavilion. I had some trouble finding it. I wasn’t sure how the coordinates worked, but I figured it out, and it popped out to me. I’m sure many people have the same issue. There are over sixty thousand pavers honoring those who served.
The morning ceremony began with breakfast at the American Sector restaurant. There I shared some stories with other daughters who were also there to honor Their Dad. During the ceremony, each honoree’s name was called, and the sponsoring attendee was given white roses to place on the honoree’s paver. There were approximately 125 people in attendance, including some family groups and individuals like me. Here is a quick video.
My dad never spoke much about the war; in fact, I only have three photos of him from that time. I regret not trying to get him to share his experience with the museum’s oral history project, because he would have said he was only a PFC (Private First Class) and a mechanic. He was much more than that; he did relate one story to me. I sent him an article on the base in Tinian where they had staged the atomic bombs; he said he remembered guarding those shacks but never knew what was in them. He lived in historic times.
The Higgins Hotel
The Higgins is the place to stay when visiting the World War II museum. It is just across the street and has ample parking. Now, parking is expensive in New Orleans, but that’s just the way it is. I stayed in a king room on the seventh floor. The rooms are all named after a veteran and are well-appointed and very comfortable. The rooms are quiet, and the decor has an Art Deco feel. Don’t miss Rosie’s on the top floor of the hotel. You can enjoy a drink and a bite to eat while taking in the beautiful city view. In the lobby, there is a bar, Kilroy’s, and Café Normandie for dinner. You can see a room tour here.
New Orleans is truly a city where you can indulge your culinary passions. It also houses many historic sites. I would suggest visiting NewOrleans.com to find all that the magnificent city has to offer.
The Museum
This is a world-class museum. It is enormous and well-run, with excellent staff and a team of dedicated volunteers. Pro tip: Arrive early; it takes time to see all the exhibits. The films are interesting and immersive. Beyond All Boundaries gives the audience a genuine sense of a firefight. If the Victory Belles are performing, be sure to see them. They are the real deal. The museum is there to collect and archive stories of the war; that is their main purpose.
If you want a deep dive into World War II, this is the place to start. You can read my first impressions of the museum here from my first visit in 2020.
