Rusk High School history projects on display at Heritage Museum
BY LELAND ACKER

Heather Cromer displays her project, depicting damage done to a Jewish synagogue on Kristallnacht, a night where German soldiers destroyed Jewish homes and synagogues. Heather's project, originally built for her 11th grade history class, is on display at the Heritage Museum.

History came alive in American History classes at Rusk High School as the students of Adam Nimitz participated in a history fair by building reconstructive displays depicting a part of World War II. The projects depicted a number of events in the war, from the invasion at Normandy, to the building that Anne Frank's family hid in.

Some of the projects are on display at the Heritage Museum on Henderson St. in Rusk.

"Our World War II exhibit will feature eleventh-grade history projects," said Kevin Stingley of the Heritage Museum. "The students did an outstanding job."

Among the items on display are Heather Cromer's rendition of Kristallnacht, the night a mixture of German citizens and stormtroopers swept through Jewish communities ransacking and destroying their homes, businesses and synagogues.

Armed soldiers stand ready at a model of a Nazi rally, assembled by Yara Cardoso. The model was constructed as part of a Rusk High School history fair.

"I was inspired by how the Jewish people put their hearts into it, and how the Nazis destroyed everything just because they could," Heather said. "I thought I could represent it well."

Her project features a broken window and several broken Jewish items, such as menorahs and candlesticks.

Another display, built by Sierra Smith, is a recreation of the Normandy beach invasion. Sierra's project earned third place in the history fair.

Placing first in the history fair was David Ford's rendition of the Normandy invasion, while Rachel Simmons' rendition of the Blitzkrieg and the London bombings won second.

"We have 12-15 projects on display," Mr. Stingley said.

In addition to the school projects, Mr. Stingley said the museum also has authentic World War II items on display.

"We have authentic Nazi stuff," he said, showing a dagger confiscated from a Nazi soldier during the war. "We have a 1917 German machine gun, uniforms, all kinds of stuff."

The World War II exhibit, featuring the projects, will be on display March 17-18 and March 24-25 at the Heritage Museum on Henderson Street in the block south of the courthouse square.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.