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In Vermont, man establishes museum for black World War II effort

Down a dirt driveway, in one of the whitest states in the nation, is a museum dedicated to the experiences of black servicemen and women during World War II.

The Museum of Black World War II History is run by Bruce Bird, a white, retired factory worker who sold his home and used the proceeds to convert a two-room 19th century schoolhouse to house it. The museum, which opened in June 2006, offers display cases filled with World War II weapons, models of tanks and aircraft and other memorabilia.

At best, it gets a handful of visitors a week.

Bird doesn't know where the money will come from to pay his next fuel oil bill.

But he's steadfast in his resolve to recognize the service and sacrifice of more than 1.1 million black servicemen and women who fought for their country in WWII or filled support jobs in every theater of war while suffering the indignities of institutional racism.
Read entire article at AP