Recently Camp Shelby and The National World War II museum announced expansions to their museums.

Museums like the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum and The National World War II museum are important to the continued education of the public on events and the people that helped shape our world and protect our freedoms throughout history.

Both museums have different focuses that present the full picture of the history of our nation and the people that fought to protect our freedoms.

The Mississippi Armed Forces is the only state funded museum. This museum exclusively focuses on the service and sacrifice of Mississippi service men and women. Their continued expansion is important to preserving a part of the state’s history.

Parents and teachers should take the opportunity to show younger generations the sacrifices others have made for them. It is only through education, despite the violence associated with that history, that children can come to understand the importance of the military and the part they play in our world.

The National World War II museum in New Orleans, La. originally started as a museum dedicated to the D-Day invasion, but quickly grew to include information and stories of those involved in Pearl Harbor, the Pacific, European and African aspects of the war.

The museum doesn’t just present the facts, but also the real and personal stories of those who fought in the war. Veterans, families of veterans and even veterans that fought for Axis powers have donated letters, uniforms and other items of servicemen who fought in the war so visitors could put a face to a global event.

It is these features that allow visitors to humanize the war, instead of just thinking of as an event that happened more than 70 years ago.

Parents and teachers should look into these museum expansions and try to plan a visit to teach children about important parts of our nation’s history.