World War II was the defining event of the 20th Century. 16 Million Americans served in the conflict, roughly 1 out of every 9 people in the United States. By the time it had ended, 400,000 Americans had been killed.
Everyone knew someone who served in the war. Nearly everyone knew someone who was killed, or a family who had lost a son, a brother, or a father.
World War II was something that every person experienced, either personally, or through someone they knew.
However, this shared experience is quickly fading.
The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that as of 2026, only 31,000 of these veterans remain with us. In just a few more years, their voices and their memories will have left us forever.
Join us Sunday, September 20th, 2026, for a privileged encounter with nearly a dozen of these surviving veterans.
On Sunday, September 20, 2026, we will be gathering nearly a dozen veterans of World War II at the Texas Military Forces Museum at Camp Mabry, in Austin, Texas, so that people can meet them and make a personal connection with this defining time in world history.
We will be joined by veterans from nearly every area of the conflict:
Marines who fought their way across the Pacific, in places like Guadalcanal, where American forces turned the tide of Japan’s brutal imperial expansion across the Pacific.
Soldiers who fought in Europe - in Italy, Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and into the heart of Hitler’s Germany itself.
Men who survived months of harsh imprisonment as captives of the German Army.
Pilots and aircrew who risked everything in hostile skies.
A trailblazing female veteran, one of the first women allowed to serve overseas during a time of conflict.
Veterans who were faced with the fight for freedom abroad and for racial equality at home
81 years after it ended, join us for this rare opportunity to make a personal connection with the men and women who experienced one of the most consequential periods in our history.
What they saw. What they heard. What they felt. Come meet them, shake their hand, and learn what it was like to be there.
We owe these men and women a debt of gratitude for what they did for our nation and for the world in their defeat of fascism and imperialism abroad and their contributions to making a more just world. In time, our memory of them will be all that remains. But right now they are still with us, and they are eager to meet you.
Our Schedule:
9:30 AM - Catholic Sunday Mass in the Base Chapel at Camp Mabry. We will gather in prayer for those killed in the war, and in thanksgiving for peace.
11:00 AM - We will gather in the Texas Military Forces Museum Hall of Honor, for an introduction of the veterans present with us, and a brief panel discussion with several of our veterans, who will share some of their experiences and perspective.
12:30 PM - WWII Veterans will be seated at tables for a meet and greet with you! They will share stories, artifacts from their time in service, and be available for photos and autographs, as they wish, until 2:00 PM. Some veterans may need to leave early, while others may stay until the Museum closes at 4:00 PM.
Our event is completely free, and open to the public. Bring your friends and family! We hope to help as many people as we can engage with our WWII veterans.
Aside from visiting with the World War II Veterans, take time to explore the Texas Military Forces Museum. The Museum is tells the story of Texas Military Forces from the Texas Revolution through the present day through immersive exhibits and impressive artifacts. The museum a special emphasis on the 36th Infantry Division, Texas’ National Guard Division. Two of our veterans in attendance served with the 36th Division in WWII, so be sure to view the exhibits connected with their service.
Our Veterans: