George showed Simon a model of his ship, LST 515.

George Sarros served as a Motor Machinist on LST (Landing Ship, Tanks) 515, landing on the beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944. LST 515 opened its giant door and unloaded tanks, ambulances and hundreds of soldiers as part of the largest amphibious military operation in history. Along with approximately 160,000 of their comrades from the sea and falling from the sky, they successfully began what has been called “the beginning of the end of World War II.” George had joined the US Navy at age 17 (with his parents’ signatures).

Simon was interested in George’s mementoes and medals.

The Belgian Brigade Piron moved further north in France, and on September 3, 1944, Piron and his men crossed the French-Belgian border. One day later they liberated Brussels and participated in the liberation of The Netherlands.

Simon Gurdal’s 1c Bataillon also fought in Market Garden, the Allies’ attempt to cross the Rhine (documented in the book and movie, A Bridge Too Far). Simon was 17 years old, having fudged his age to join the army. The Belgian Brigade Piron continued the fight northward beginning three months after D-Day.

 From birthplaces 4,000 miles apart, these brave 17-year-olds had joined the fight against tyranny. Simon had felt this through Germany’s occupation of his homeland since 1940. These men now connected their experiences in the geography of Europe from June through September 1944.

Simon and George found something else in common—they both speak Greek. After a short conversation in Greek over lunch of pizza and French fries, Simon said to George, “As soon as I saw your last name, I knew you were Greek.”

 Laughing, George said, “I had to learn to speak Greek. My Greek grandmother lived with us in Chicago, and she spoke no English. When she called me in Greek to come to her, I had to know what she was saying or I would’ve been in big trouble.”

 Simon learned Greek while living on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, where a large settlement of Greek fishermen made their living night-fishing from the lake.

The WWII veterans shared their service connection, their fight for freedom, and even a knowledge of the Greek language. When they parted, they vowed to see each other again.

Top photo: Eighty-two years after fighting for freedom, WWII veterans Simon Gurdal (left) and George Sarros met and swapped stories of their war experiences

Welcome

The ¶¶ŇőLive 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.

On June 3rd, the Board of Directors renamed the Merchant Marine exhibit to the Harold E. Wellington Merchant Marine of World War II Memorial Gallery in honor of long-time museum volunteer Harold Wellington.

In the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson, Wellington “Crossed the Bar” in December of 2024.  Before Wellington passed away, he accomplished one more milestone in a life filled with service to his country and his fellow veterans. Wellington became a centenarian on September 29th, 2024.

Left, Harold Wellington celebrated his 100th birthday in his room at a long-term care facility in September of ’24.  Right, Wellington celebrated his 99th birthday with family and friends in a local restaurant. 

During 100 years of living, Harold Wellington received the Congressional Gold Medal from the United States Congress, served in three different branches of the military during two major wars, and survived a near-fatal car crash in front of thousands of spectators during a stock car race. Wellington lived every day of his remarkable life to the fullest.

Wellington Campioned for the Cause of the VHMC

Over the past eight years, Wellington’s commitment to the success of the ¶¶ŇőLive has not been as well-known as his military service and the accolades he received for volunteering to serve during World War II.  In this article, I want to focus on Wellington’s devotion to telling the story of the Merchant Marines of WWII and his drive to preserve artifacts of the Merchant Services in our museum.

Wellington is showing off his Liberty ship model to John Taylor, owner of a local toy store.

I met Wellington when he was well into his 90s. Wellington attended the ¶¶ŇőLive’s first exhibition display in downtown Brevard, NC. I covered the exhibition as a reporter for WLOS News 13.  Wellington happened to be the first World War II veteran I spoke with during the event.  Even in 2016, World War II veterans were hard to find.  Interviewing this American Hero was a top priority for my story.  

“I feel honored that people remember,” said Wellington during that first interview.  His interview lasted a total of five seconds.  Neither he nor I knew that those five seconds would lead to several more television appearances and a friendship that lasted until this last December. 

Months after the exhibition, Transylvania County offered the Veterans Museum an unused building next to the Historical Courthouse.  Wellington attended the opening ceremonies and quickly became an everyday fixture at the Museum.  

Wellington sits for a conversation with an attendee of the ¶¶ŇőLives first WWII conference. 

The museum volunteers encouraged his presence. Often, visitors would get the extra treat of taking a selfie with a World War II veteran as part of the museum experience.  To boost the museum’s social media reach, I posted pictures of Wellington with visitors.  I often joked with Harold that he was “the coolest artifact the museum had to display.” 

Soon, a new chair arrived in the museum’s reception area.  It is a movie director’s folding chair with “Harold” embroidered across the back.  A fitting addition to the furniture of the museum and a testament to the amount of time Wellington dedicated to the cause.

Wellington became much more than a visitor favorite as the Museum grew.  He advised the Curator at the time that the Museum lacked any mention of a key group of sailors, very important to the war effort in the 1940s.

During WWII, Wellington served as a Merchant Marine on a Liberty Ship in the Battle of the Atlantic.  I wasn’t the only volunteer Wellington educated on the almost forgotten service of the Merchant Marine.  He donated two of his uniforms and tiny black and white square pictures of himself on a Liberty Ship, along with cards of the medals he earned.  We found space for his treasured belongings, and the Museum’s Merchant Marine display came to life. 

The addition of his uniforms to the museum’s WWII exhibit made Wellington happy, but not satisfied.  He began searching the internet for more artifacts.  He used his own money to purchase items like a liberty ship clock, a lifeboat sextant, and a life vest with “U.S Merchant Services” printed across the chest. 

During this trip to the National WWII Museum, Wellington received the Congressional Gold Medal for serving in the Merchant Marines during WWII.

A trip to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans gave Wellington another idea.  I accompanied Wellington on this visit and distinctly remember him saying to me, “Wouldn’t that look good in our museum?”  He lifted his cane and pointed at a very large-scale model of a Liberty ship on display.  I could tell by the look in his eyes that another internet search was in his future. 

Not only did Wellington find a scale model that fit in the museum’s limited space. He also hand-crafted the glass display case that houses the model today.  Determined to make the story of the Merchant Marine more prominent in the museum, Wellington donated the rare artifacts and the ship model with no expectation of repayment.

Wellington recieves the Congressinal Gold Medal from the United States Congress

Wellington’s generosity didn’t stop with the gift of his online acquisitions to the museum. In early 2020, President Donald J. Trump signed the Merchant Mariner Act into law.  As part of the Act, Congress minted a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the Merchant Marines of WWII.  Every living Merchant Marine of WWII received a bronze copy of the gold medal from the government.

Wellington invited me to travel with him to the American Merchant Marine Veterans Association’s national convention, where the association unveiled the design of the medal to members and their families.  In an interview for WLOS TV, I asked Wellington how he felt about receiving such a high honor from Congress. 

“It’s great to be recognized ’cause we’ve been disregarded for so long,” said Wellington.  “Like I say, we were bad-mouthed and called names…draft dodgers and all this other stuff for so many years.  And now, we are finally getting the recognition for who we were and what we did.  We are proud of it, and I think the people should be proud of it.”

Left, Wellington receives a quilt from the “Quilts of Honor” quilters in Hendersonville. Above, Wellington at his home in Brevard.

Wellington’s health prevented him from attending the official Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in Washington, DC, a year later.  He received his bronze medal in the mail.  The next day, Wellington brought the medal to the museum, and we placed it inside the glass case he constructed for the model of his Liberty Ship.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the oldest and highest civilian award in the United States.  Yet, Wellington immediately shared the prize with the museum he loved.  A selfless act on the scale of his original selfless act when he volunteered to serve America during her time of need eighty years ago.   

Left, Wellington and George Sarros at the National WWII Museum in NOLA.  Above, Wellington dressed out for the 4th of July with friends.

Wellington has now embarked on a new journey. To say goodbye, I will use an old nautical phrase as a blessing for a successful voyage.  I believe I am speaking for everyone at the museum when I wish Harold “fair winds and following seas”. You, Sir, will be sorely missed.

Board Member Kenneth Corn is a regular contributor to the “Living Histories” blog.  Corn has served as the Vice President of the Board of Directors and is one of the founding members of the ¶¶ŇőLive.  Before helping create this non-profit honoring Veterans, Corn worked as a journalist for several television stations in the state of North Carolina and deployed to Iraq with the 82nd Airborne as an embeded journalist in 2003 – 2004.

This Memorial Day, we remember those who sacrificed so we could live in freedom, those who gave their lives while serving. And we’re thinking of those who have lost someone they love. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for our freedom!

Charles George: The Korean War Hero from Cherokee, NC

A duplicate of this bronze statue of Charles George in the Cherokee Veterans Memorial Park in Cherokee is located outside the Charles George Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Asheville, NC.

Pfc. George’s indomitable courage, consummate devotion to duty, and willing self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself and uphold the finest traditions of the military service.

Thank you for your willingness to participate in this  Questionnaire.

We have a target date of  May 1, 2025 for receipt of the questionnaires.

Transylvania Community Arts Council is developing a program to offer FREE art classes for
veterans, current active duty members of the armed forces, reservists, as well as
veteran caregivers and immediate adult military family members (the Military
Community).

The Arts Council’s initial vision for this program is to offer classes in 4-5 art forms (see
the first question). Classes for each art form will meet 4-6 times, usually once a week.
The classes will be taught by artists/educators with substantive expertise and teaching
experience.

Classes will be open to individuals at any skill level. The classes will be at no cost to
participants. If they desire, military personnel may bring someone to class with them
(spouse, child, friend, etc.).

Once the classes have ended, the Arts Council will sponsor an exhibit in the Arts
Council Gallery where the class participants can, if they choose, exhibit the art they
created in the different classes.

To best serve the Military Community, the Arts Council is gathering information from the
Military Community to determine the types of art that are of interest and optimal ways
for structuring classes.

PLEASE RETURN YOUR COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE AS FOLLOWS:
– Download and Scan and email to info@tcarts.org
– On-line questionnaire – click the button below
– Drop off at The ¶¶ŇőLive, 21 East Main Street, Brevard, NC

If you have questions, or would like additional information, please contact the Arts
Council at info@tcarts.org, or call us at 828.884.2787.

Cycling Fundraiser on the Natchez Trace Parkway

Once again, intrepid athletes Rich Clarke and John Buford are pedaling to benefit the ¶¶ŇőLive! This time, their endurance, grit, and determination will be tested on the 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway which winds from Natchez, Mississippi, to just south of Nashville, Tennessee.
The trek begins on April 12th.

Last year, those who supported the bikers’ 500-mile marathon enabled us to:

• Refurbish our library, allowing students and adults to research projects from the First World War through the Global War on Terrorism;
• Offer the community free programs which celebrate our veterans’ stories and honor their sacrifices;
• Provide private group tours to public school classes, homeschoolers, scout troops, Jr. ROTC, and adult groups; and, most importantly,
• Keep our doors open despite a large drop in attendance and donations immediately following Hurricane Helene.

We hope you will pledge your support of these dedicated cycling veterans in their epic ride while ensuring the mission of the museum continues its growth in educating, preserving and honoring the United States military veteran.

Here’s how to pledge (billed later):

1. EMAIL your pledge to museum Treasurer Michel Robertson: mjrobertson@comporium.net
   (note second letter is a “j”)
2. Call 828-884-2141 or drop by the museum: 21 E. Main St., Brevard.
3. To , click HERE to go to our website; include “bike ride” in your notes.

Honoring the Service of Veterans’ Families

Joy and Ted Minnick — in love for 58 years.

Joy and Ted Minnick — in love for 58 years.

Ted Minnick holds his daughter Kim the day before his departure to Vietnam.

Upon Ted’s departure, Joy made a point of telling lots of “Daddy stories” to their infant daughter, Kim.

I saw Ted, but he walked right past me — I had lost weight since the baby and he didn’t recognize me. I reached out and grabbed him.

It was a great reunion until the next morning when we were awakened by the pounding of a jack hammer at a construction site nearby. As soon as it started, Ted grabbed me and we hit the floor. It was a while before we could breathe again.

Other than that, the week was like a fairy tale. Memories we will hold forever.
Then, back to reality. Six more months of watchful waiting, viewing horrific news reports. Good Morning America received several letters from me asking why they only reported the terrible events. I’m not sure what I thought they should report, but the letters made me feel better.

Kim had her first birthday without her Daddy, but he sent her a letter in a card and made one of the “OVER” phone calls. Somehow, we both survived those 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes. We loved, we wrote, we talked, we cried, we laughed, and we survived. That was one year out of our now 58 years together.

The Minnicks have served their country for more than half a century.

Top Photo: A happy family reunion: after a year’s separation, Ted, Joy, and Kim are reunited.

Editor’s Note: the following essay was written by Joy Minnick, wife of Vietnam War veteran Lt. Col. Ted Minnick, USA, Retired.

Ed Cottrell ,Lt. Col. (Ret.), Honorary Board Member of the museum, and Gary Rodbell, Cpl. IDF Special Forces Golani Brigade, museum volunteer extraordinaire, at The Cliffs.

Ed Cottrell captivated his audience, old and young alike, and answered questions from the large attentive crowd. 

Gary Rodbell and his wife, Colette listening to Ed Cottrell’s presentation

On behalf of the entire Walnut Cove Team we presented Ret. LT Col. Ed Cottrell with a parting gift as a token of our sincere appreciation for sharing his time and insights with our members and staff. We are honored ot have had the opportunity to hear his story. We extend our deepest gratitude for his contributions to our country and our community.

Article by by Gary Rodbell