Week 13

 Hello readers!

I'm excited to share that I've officially started the process of creating an exhibit for the Lieutenant Commander Salvatore Vacanti Collection. As you know, this collection is comprised of various personal artifacts, documents, photographs, and other memorabilia generously donated by LCDR Vacanti's daughter. My goal was to transform these items into an engaging and informative exhibit that honors LCDR Vacanti’s service and I think I’ve made a good start in doing just that

So far, up until now, I've been hard at work accessioning the collection, which is a crucial step to ensure that everything is cataloged and preserved properly. Now that the collection is properly cataloged I have begun to move forward with the exhibit itself.

In the collection, I've found some fascinating artifacts that illustrate LCDR Vacanti's career. These include, A World War II ration card.Various medals, including World War II occupation medals, Korean and Vietnam War service medals, and a Navy Good Conduct Medal, Graduation cards from his time as an enlisted man, which revealed that he was an Aviation Machinist Mate, and various poster from his time as a recruiter.

I’ve also been diving into research to provide context for Vacanti's service. For example, I’ve explored the Navy's use of blimps in the 1950s and 60s and discovered that LCDR Vacanti served in squadron ZW-1. I’ve also clarified that while LCDR Vacanti was a reservist, he served on active duty orders for much of his career(a trait LCDR Vacanti shares with most of the US presidents who served in the Navy including, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and George H. W. Bush).  

This is still a work in progress, and there’s much more to do. I’m excited to share a sneak peek of the collection as it looks so far. Stay tuned for more updates as the exhibit develops!

I am looking forward to crafting an exhibit that not only honors LCDR Vacanti’s service but also offers visitors a meaningful connection to military history. Right now the exhibit serves as a much needed link from the Korean War to the Vietnam War.



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