As The Goldsboro Museum curates its traveling exhibition highlighting Black war veterans, they are hoping local veterans will donate their personal memorabilia to add to the collection.
Since 2016, the museum has been putting together the exhibition titled, “Our Colored Fighting Troops” which features photos, awarded metals, certificates, and even a full armed forces uniform collected from residents.
“We want the names of our Black heroes to be remembered and honored,” said Francis Oliver, founder of
The Goldsboro Museum.
The exhibition includes a full U.S Air Force Tactical Air Commander uniform that belonged to James Monroe Thornton.
Thornton, who first spent 21 months of his military career in the U.S. Army, was a part of the military police battalion in Hawaii and “was responsible for guarding some of the most dangerous Japanese prisoners of the war,” according to his obituary, which is also part of the exhibition.
Sanford’s first Black commissioner Robert “Bob” Thomas fought in World War II at the age of 15, after dropping out of school and misrepresenting his age because of his family’s financial constraints. His military photo can be seen in the museum’s exhibition, along with a photo of George Duncan, who fought in the Korean War.
There’s an entire photo album related to the Gulf War, also known as the Operation Desert Storm, and several military documents for Willie Wallace, son of Goldsboro pioneers Daniel and Frances Jenkins.
Posha Baker, the CEO of the Goldsboro Museum, said the exhibition will continue to be loaned out to other museums following the completion of the museum’s new building.
“It gives a sense of pride and hope that Blacks have served this country with honor and respect, and they are due that justice the same.” said Baker. “We fought for this country, we fought for our freedom and we fought for the freedom of others.”
Families and individuals are encouraged to donate photos and other items to be added to the Goldsboro Museum exhibition. The Goldsboro Museum is at 1211 Historical Goldsboro Boulevard, Sanford, and is open Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
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