NAMPA, Idaho — The Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa broke ground on their new maintenance hangar, allowing the museum to expand and add a unique exhibit, The Post 9/11 Global War on Terror.
Many veterans and public officials attended Friday’s ceremony where museum leaders spoke about the expansion project.
Carson Spear, the Executive Director of the Warhawk Air Museum, said the new hangar will help the museum add the new 9/11 tribute exhibit which will also have tributes to veterans deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Spear said this project is important for modern day veterans because there is not a place for them to reflect on their service.
"If you Google right now, Global War on Terrorism museums, there's only one right now currently in the country back in Fort Benning, Georgia, there's another memorial being built in Washington, DC, and there's a couple of tributes at some of the presidential libraries,” Spear said. “There's really nothing like this anywhere close to Idaho. So, we're very excited."
The project is worth $3.5 million, and the museum has raised $2.8 million. They are about $700,000 shy of meeting their goal.
The museum is asking any veterans that served in the war in Iraq or Afghanistan to send uniforms, pictures, flags, or anything that will help tell the story so the museum can honor their service.
“I've seen the power of this museum to heal and bring joy and it's a hub for veterans,” Spear said. “Veterans bring their families and their kids and show them what they did and the sacrifices that were made.”
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET NEWS FROM KTVB:
Download the KTVB News Mobile App
Apple iOS: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Watch news reports for FREE on YouTube: KTVB YouTube channel
Stream Live for FREE on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching 'KTVB'.
Stream Live for FREE on FIRE TV: Search ‘KTVB’ and click ‘Get’ to download.