Welcome

The ���ֶ���Ƶ welcomes the community and area visitors to its 2026 Grand Opening on Tuesday, March 3, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. “We’re very proud of our recent additions,” said David Morrow, board president, “and we look forward to welcoming the community.”

Curator, Bobby Kotlowski, added: “Incredibly hard-working and knowledgeable volunteers have spent two months preparing new displays, refreshing current exhibits, and cleaning and prepping all spaces for the much-anticipated 2026 opening. I especially want to thank Greg Ehr, Ray Pavlik, Jim Schenfield, and Mike Johnson.”

Visitors will experience a trip through history as they admire our new acquisitions (photos below each bullet):

• New D-Day exhibit, which includes four helmets and part of a parachute found in France close to where the Normandy invasion occurred;

• Artifacts from various submarines and two impressive models of modern submarines and a WWII sub;

• Telegraph from a British warship;

• Additions to the Air Force exhibit, such as artifacts from a B-17 aircraft which includes the auto pilot designed and built by Honeywell;

• Ship’s bell from the quarter deck of the USS Essex, which was the lead ship of the Essex-class aircraft carriers and played a significant role in WWII and later in the Korean War. (not pictured)

Also new in our galleries are attractively displayed biographies with photos of veterans from each conflict from WWI through the Global War on Terror. These bios are especially significant because they reflect the lives and service histories of individuals directly related to Transylvania County.

Posters were designed by board member Greg Ehr.
So join us on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 as we open our doors and proudly embrace our mission to honor veterans and their stories, educate the community, and preserve important historical artifacts.

Transylvania’s museum would bring substantial attention and credibility

If North Carolina was to found a museum from scratch, acquiring a building, hiring a staff, and finding artifacts may all be doable enough, but the spark to make it a welcoming institutional home for veterans could be elusive. The museum here in Transylvania is a gem that just happened to find root here. If the state moves forward to adopt Transylvania’s museum it would bring substantial attention and credibility, and boost the chances it continues to flourish as an institution.

Two examples of the museum in action:

• Volunteer authors interviewed and collected the stories of 80 local veterans of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. These were published, with abundant photos, as three handsome books. They can be purchased at the museum or on Amazon, etc.
• Short films, each introducing a conflict from WWI to the War on Terror were produced for viewing in museum galleries. Put together they are the best 44-minute introduction to the last century of America’s wars to be found. Teachers are finding out and putting it to use.”

My father was a WWII combat veteran who lived here with me for the last 5+ years of his life. We discovered the museum in its first days at the Heritage Museum. It became simply the best thing in his life. He was treated like a celebrity: red-carpet (literally) welcomes, a seat of honor next to the mayor, photographed, interviewed, published, book-signings, Honor wall plaque, Quilts of Valor ceremony, his picture in the paper several times a year, great speakers and events, and always someone new saying thank you and please tell me your story. Never just an old man in a wheelchair but a man among heroes.

Testimonial by John Luzena, Museum Volunteer

Brothers and Sisters Like These

On Saturday, October 21, military veterans of different eras gathered at Brevard College to read their stories, essays, and poetry. The venue is part of a project called “Brothers and Sisters Like These,” a series of writing workshops designed to help heal veterans with PTSD and mild TBI (traumatic brain injury).

Ten men and women from the Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts courageously opened their hearts to an attentive audience who left with a new understanding and respect for all who have served in combat zones. The event was sponsored by the ���ֶ���Ƶ.

Writing Helps the Healing Process

An estimated 250,000 Vietnam veterans are living with PTSD five decades after the end of the war. Research indicates that approximately 14% to 16% of the US service members deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq have been affected by PTSD or depression. Clearly, the unseen wounds of these veterans affect all aspects of their lives, and our communities.
The NC ���ֶ���ƵWriting Alliance developed a creative writing program where veterans unburden themselves in a safe, non-judgmental setting. The writing process helps heal what remains wounded as veterans reach within themselves to free their memories and their hearts.

In 2018, a group of veterans agreed to participate in a staged reading at the Asheville Community Theater titled “Brothers Like These.” The program’s success has morphed to include veterans of later conflicts and is now titled “Brothers and Sisters Like These.”

Demons Released

Reading to a respectful and somber audience in an intimate classroom at Brevard College, the ten men and women who spoke addressed the many “demons” of combat: illness from Agent Orange, thoughts of suicide, the loss of comrades, returning to “the world,” and the sights, sounds, and smells of war.

One Iraqi War veteran told his listeners he was reading publicly for the first time. Visibly shaken and struggling, he “soldiered” through his presentation reading a letter he had written to himself. “Through pain and the process of healing, you will grow the most. You may not win the lottery, but you will be a better man.”

A Vietnam War veteran wrote: “Thank you for allowing me to ‘release’ another demon.”

A Mutual Gift

These stories of war and its consequences are offered at a great emotional cost by men and women who trust an audience enough to stand before them and bare their souls. They draw us together and offer a lesson in history. We return their extraordinary gift of faith with one of our own: open hearts and the gift of listening.

On Wednesday, March 1 at 11:00 AM, the ���ֶ���Ƶ will proudly re-open its doors with a warm welcome for everyone.

Founder/Curator Emmett Casciato often says, “A visiting veteran will see one of our artifacts and begin telling a story. The veteran’s adult children will say ‘He’s never told that story before!’”
What’s new in the museum this year?

Each of our galleries features a professionally-produced 6-7 minute video entitled “Through Their Eyes.” They tell the story of Americans at war. Learn why and how each war began, see images of what it was like for our service members, and discover up-close the artifacts, uniforms, and stories of local veterans who served. These short videos play separately as you visit the galleries of WWI, WWII-Europe, WWII-Pacific, Korean War, Vietnam War, and the War on Terror. The project is made possible by grants from, , , and . If you missed the premiere in October, now’s your chance to experience these compelling stories at your own pace.

The Vietnam gallery has been dedicated to Vietnam veteran Mike Di Rocco

He served in the US Army Special Forces and USMC, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam. Di Rocco, a much-respected and loved volunteer and speaker for the museum, sadly passed away in 2022. This gallery also offers new artifacts from two local veterans who were POWs in Vietnam.

You may be surprised to find a Russian truck-launched rocket in the museum now. We believe this one was retrieved in Iraq or Afghanistan by Navy Seals. It’s just one example of the unique and interesting items you’ll find.

The WWI gallery boasts a rare Maxim machine gun.

No worries about mis-placing this artifact—it’s so heavy that it took 6 men to man it! That included transporting and operating the gun, the stand, the ammo, and even water for cooling. It’s a must-see.

1943 Willys Jeep exhibit

If you haven’t yet seen the 1943 Willys Jeep exhibit, it’s now at its best. Additional equipment and artifacts from WWII have been added to this “visitors’ favorite” scene. It’s titled, “Somewhere in Europe . . . Letters from ���ֶ���Ƶ,” and depicts an Army Post Office with soldiers arriving, hoping for a letter from a loved one. The 1942 Harley-Davidson nearby provided transportation for MPs. You’ll notice the authentic leather saddlebags and the “suicide stick.” To find out what this means, come on in and ask.

Bring your family members for a unique “walk and learn” experience.

The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday from 11am to 3pm. Friendly volunteers are ready to greet you, but tours can be self-guided, making it easy for you to spend anything from a few minutes to a few hours enjoying this walk through our proud military history. There are many artifacts with stories behind them – ask a Pathfinder (docent) to share one. We are the museum of stories!

“Through Their Eyes” videos are available on our homepage (all six videos combined) and the 6-7 minute segments are available for viewing on each of the exhibit pages.

1943 Willys Jeep and 1942 Harley-Davidson motorcycle exhibit

Expanded Museum Schedule: Record Number of Visitors & Volunteers

The museum’s visitor attendance in 2022 was 3638 (compared to 2583 in 2021); 90% of the visitors are from outside Brevard. This year we had a record number of 22 Pathfinders (docents), whose initiative and enthusiasm encouraged us to open for five days per week (previously four), and to stay open through December 31 for the first time in the museum’s history.

New Exhibit, Artifacts, and Partnerships

2022’s new exhibit was a WWII scene “Letters from ���ֶ���Ƶ, Somewhere in Europe,” displaying a 1943 Willys Jeep and 1942 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The fully-restored and running Jeep was donated to the museum by Ken Dawson of Winston-Salem, N.C., to honor the military service of his friend Phil Mayrand, U.S. Army Ranger, Vietnam. The two friends met as young Explorer Scouts in the late 1950’s. Harley-Davidson motorcycles like the one in the exhibit (with its “suicide shifter”) were used by WWII MPs in the European theatre.

Patriot’s Point Partnership

The museum also received donations of a WWI Maxim machine gun, a 14-foot Soviet missile, and German uniforms and shoes. New Director of Acquisitions Bobby Kotlowski established a partnership with Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Charleston, SC to procure additional artifacts. He expects more historically significant items in 2023.

International Recognition

With the City of Brevard, the museum hosted a ceremony bestowing of the French Legion de l’honneur on D-Day veteran George Sarros for his service in liberating France and Europe from Nazi occupation. French Consul General Anne-Laure Dèsjonqueres presented the medal in a ceremony attended by more than 100 people.

Pictured from left, George Sarros, NC Representative Mike Clampitt, Consul General Dèsjonqueres, and Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof

Original Video Programs and Grants

In 2022, inflation and a sluggish economy resulted in a 14.5% decline in donations to the museum. A Covid-relief grant from North Carolina Humanities enabled the museum to stay open. Grants and partnerships supported exciting new programs such as the Jeep Exhibit and “Through Their Eyes” (a documentary consisting of six videos). A short video in each gallery tells the history of each conflict through professional narration, photos, music, museum artifacts and local veterans’ stories.

Community Presence & Business Support

We continued our participation in community events such as Independence Day, ���ֶ���ƵDay, and Memorial Day. We received generous sponsorships from five local businesses: Egolf Motors, TVS, Harris Ace Hardware, The Cherry Tree, and O.P. Taylor’s. JROTC groups from Transylvania County and Haywood County came in for customized tours, and the museum awarded its annual scholarship to a Transylvania JROTC cadet.

Ambassador to Business

Honorary Museum Board Member USAF Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ed Cottrell represented the museum at the ribbon-cutting of the Pratt & Whitney plant in Asheville, N.C. Cottrell was introduced to the audience as a P-47 Fighter Pilot who flew 65 missions in the Battle of the Bulge. He credits the Pratt & Whitney radial engine for saving his life when his engine was shot by a German ME-109.

Pictured from left: Ed Cottrell, Governer Cooper

Back to the Battlefield

Andrew Biggio, author of the bestselling WWII book,The Rifle, met WWII pilot Ed Cottrell at a museum event. Biggio has taken Cottrell on three “back to the battlefield” trips to Holland and Belgium. Biggio also took Cottrell to the gravesite of his roommate Thomas H. Smith, who was shot down and killed in battle. This was the first time Cottrell had been able to pay tribute to his fellow pilot and friend. Biggio, USMC veteran of Afghanistan, has become a partner with the museum, honoring two local WWII veterans by publishing their stories in the latest edition of his book.

Media, Communications and Outreach

In 2022, our website had 35,775 visits (up from 22,082 in 2021), 90% being first-time visits. The search words “things to do in Western N.C.” are what brought most of those to our site. We averaged 50 site visits per day until June and July, when that number jumped to 1000+ per day, with 80-97% from cell phones. This tells us people are searching for things to do while they’re traveling.

The most popular stories on our website’s “Living Histories” blog last year were “Still Hoping to Save the Kitty Hawk” (18,309 visitors) and “Band of Brothers” (2349 visitors).

The museum’s social media include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Our Facebook page, where we posted 200 stories in 2022, has 3000+ followers. Our posts received 88,725 views, with 8000+ followers sharing or liking our content. We share with groups like “We Are Brevard NC,” making our posts available to their 23,000 followers.

Museum communications outreach now includes 17 media placements for each event. We have 1915 subscribers to our weekly e-newsletter, with 42% open rate. Bold Life Magazine published two features on our programs. Area newspapers placed the museum’s articles on their front pages a total of seven times in 2022.

Three TV stations broadcasted stories on the French Legion de l’honneur ceremony. Greenville, SC’s Fox Carolina journalist is expected to return February 27 to do a segment about the museum.

Four board members represented the museum at the Charleston, S.C. commissioning of the USS Frank E. Petersen, the Navy’s newest guided missile destroyer, displaying some of the museum’s important artifacts, and spreading the word about the museum to a new audience.

Guest Speaker History Programs

We held a record 10 history lectures, averaging 71 attendees each, with two programs bringing in more than 100 people. Nationally-known authors as well as local veterans telling their stories brought audiences into three new venues: Transylvania County Elections Center Conference Room, Transylvania County Library’s Rogow Room, and Brevard College’s Ingram Lecture Hall. Authors James Scott (Target Tokyo, Black Snow) and Sean McMeekin (Stalin’s War) presented programs on their new books.

Requested by a California Vietnam Veterans’ group, speakers are now livestreamed on Facebook and posted on our site for viewers all over the world.

Museum Partnership with Brevard College

Brevard College’s History Department co-sponsored our program based on the book, Loyal Forces: The American Animals of WWII. The program was presented by National WWII Museum official and Brevard College alumna Toni Kiser. Museum staff looks forward to our continued partnership with Brevard College.

The Museum’s Future

The museum’s Founder/Curator, Emmett Casciato, took a leave of absence to run for public office and won. Other volunteers stepped in with seamless continuity and added new ideas. Casciato is now a member of the Transylvania County Board of Commissioners and energetically back at the museum, developing plans to raise support for an eventual new home for the museum.

The ���ֶ���Ƶ invites you to join us  for a free encore showing of “Through Their Eyes.”

A series of six brief films tells the stories of America’s conflicts since WWI through the eyes of service members, many of them local. October’s premiere brought a standing-room-only crowd, with many requests for another showing; so it’s back by popular demand.

Transylvania County Library
Rogow Room
Friday, December 2
at 2:00 P.M.

History of America at war

The film gives a brief history of America at war from WWI through the Global War on Terror, using photos, music, videos and professional narrative. Museum artifacts support the stories, describing the personal sacrifices of our veterans and paying tribute to combatants and their families.

With the anniversary of on December 7, this film is a valuable history lesson and an opportunity to appreciate the sacrifice of those at war and on the home front during WWII.

“Through Their Eyes” Documentary

“Through Their Eyes” is a professionally-produced documentary. The ���ֶ���Ƶ is grateful to the following organizations for making it possible: , an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Lake Toxaway Charities, Pisgah Forest Rotary, and Transylvania County.

Admission is free to this 45-minute showing of “Through Their Eyes” For more information: call 828-884-2141.

���ֶ���Ƶ
Invites You to a FREE Special Video Presentation

“Through Their Eyes”

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

VIDEO PRESENTATION:
Two 45-minute showings
5:00pm and 7:00pm
Co-Ed Cinema, downtown Brevard

RECEPTION:
5:30pm to 7:00pm
Clemson Plaza next to the Co-Ed Cinema
Refreshments will be served.

LIVE MUSIC
The Urbanites

For event for questions please call: (828) 506-6603

If you would like to learn more about the short films click the button below. 

Above photo:: Members of Special Forces Association, Smoky Mountains Chapter. L-R: Bill Gunn, William Knowlton, John Funderburk, Robert Terry Smith, and Phill Hanson

Mike Di Rocco in his Special Forces green jacket, having a good time at the ���ֶ���Ƶ.

Team leader Phill Hanson holds his salute during the “Final Roll Call.”

Beautiful rolling hills and mountains overlook the Western Carolina State ���ֶ���ƵCemetery in Black Mountain.

Presentation of the flag to Maggie Di Rocco by a Senior Master Sergeant from the Fort Bragg Green Berets during memorial service at Sacred Heart Catholic CHurch, Brevard.

Green Beret Robert Terry Smith with Maggie Di Rocco

A painting of Green Beret Mike on patrol in the Van Cahn Valley, VIetnam 1965, by military illustrator and painter Max Grace.