Soldiers' Stories:
War in the First Person

Centered on the letters written by soldiers from the Carolinas to their loved ones at home, this exhibit explores the many emotions of war - from Patriotism and Pride to Fear and Despair - at a time when we, as a people, have experienced an upclose and personal view of armed conflict’s many faces.

Often eloquent, or heart-breaking in their starkness, the letters date from every American conflict from the Revolution to the current conflict in Iraq. A special section is devoted to passionate love letters written by soldiers far from their sweethearts.

The exhibit itself is a rich, multi-media experience. Each of seven themed areas presents, not only letters and the biographies of the soldiers who wrote them, but the sights and sounds of the war eras.

Through a touchscreen, visitors play newsreels, videos and radio broadcasts, as well as music ranging from "Yankee Doodle" to "The Yanks Are Coming" to "The Eve of Destruction."

The powerful exhibit proved so popular that the museum extended its run for a full year, through September, 2004. Curators have added correspondence from U.S. military personnel currently deployed in the Middle East and in-depth profiles and maps of the countries involved.

You can read many of the letters, along with biographies and pictures of the soldiers who wrote them, online at www.soldiersstories.org, the exhibit’s website. For more information, you can reach the museum at 704.568.1774.