Veterans museum seeks temporary Anderson site

The Northern California Veterans Museum and Heritage Center, currently subsisting out of an office or two in Redding, is looking for a larger but still temporary home in Anderson, director and curator Robert Burroughs announced recently.

After working with students and teachers at several Anderson schools, Burroughs approached Dana Shigley, assistant city manager in Anderson, in finding a 2,000-square foot to 5,000-square foot building "to get the museum established and open to the public."

Anderson has several vacant buildings within the downtown demonstration block along East Center Street that just might fill the bill, Burroughs told the Valley Post.

"We have been working with the students at Anderson New Tech High School for some time now and have awarded several small scholarships to the students" for projects they have undertaken at the museum's request, Burroughs said.

More recently, students from Sacred Heart Elementary School were guests of the museum at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo, where the museum had several of its mobile exhibits on display and arranged for the students to tour a Vietnam-era helicopter.

Many of the students also participated in the "hand painting of an American flag" and viewed exhibits of military uniforms and equipment, Burroughs explained.

"The entire program was very successful, and we are looking forward to serving other schools in the North State in this same manner," Burroughs stated in his April 27 letter to Shigley.

Currently, the museum has enough historical items and a 2,000-volume research library to fill a 10,000-square foot facility, he said.

"We believe that this museum will be a positive draw to the Anderson community and will help in the involvement of the community and education of the Anderson youth," Burroughs said.

Eventually, the museum wants to build a permanent display facility at the Redding Municipal Airport due to its close proximity to a runway for aircraft to be flown in and displayed at the museum, he said.

Burroughs is also petitioning U.S. Congressman Wally Herger for some federal funding and support of the museum's effort to memorialize Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Col. James Swett, U.S. Marine Corps, who passed away last month.

"Col. Swett was the epitome of our national spirit. He showed his patriotism not only as a World War II pilot, but also as a national hero. His leadership and spirit helped to inspire many Americans to rise up and serve their country honorably," Burroughs wrote in an April 27 letter to Herger that was provided to the Valley Post.

Mrs. Verna Swett has donated the bulk of the colonel's belongings to the museum in order to share his story with others, Burroughs said.

"It is a great opportunity and privilege for our museum to be able to take on this important task and carry out Mrs. Swett's wishes," Burroughs' letter indicates.

Any federal funding Herger can provide would assist Burroughs in putting together a professional exhibit telling the story of Col. Swett's life, from his youth and motivations through is distinguished career as a fighter pilot during World War II.

Swett's personal items, including his uniforms, decorations and flight gear, along with a 1-1 scale model of an F-4U Corsair fighter aircraft, will be displayed at the museum, Burroughs said.

The display will also show actual films and a documentary of Col. Swett.

Burroughs is also seeking donations of all types, from cash, materials and labor to museum-quality display items, for the museum.

He can be reached by phone at (530) 223-9327 or by mail at 2950 Bechelli Lane, Suite 205, Redding, CA 96002.