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Monday, 19 May 2008 |
By KAY LOUTH
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Pride and respect for soldiers and an appreciation of history helps drive the passion to collect U.S. military memorabilia for Phillip Marritt and Tim Alexander, both of St. Marys.
In 1973, Marritt received two military patches from a friend of his mother, a Third Army patch and an 82nd American Airborne patch.
His family, Marritt said, “haunted antique malls,” and after receiving the gift of the patches, Marritt began hunting more patches, which led in turn to a hunt for other items.
Marritt’s collection today includes 3,300 items ranging from buttons and uniforms to head gear of all type. He even has an access door from a Cobra attack helicopter.
“I tell people I live in a two-bedroom apartment and it (his collection) has the bigger bedroom,” Marritt said.
His most prized item is a simple steel pot helmet used by a soldier in World War II, a graduation gift from a teacher. The helmet belonged to William Lewis Gray who served with the 1257 Combat Engineers. Part of the reason the helmet is so special to Marritt is because he knows some of the history surrounding the item.
“I know for a fact, this helmet was worn at D-Day and at the Battle of the Bulge,” Marritt said.
Gray was part of the third wave that stormed the beaches at Normandy on D-Day. Marritt said Gray campaigned across France and eventually ended up in the Battle of the Bulge.
Marritt also said he believes showing things like Gray’s helmet and telling its story helps bring the reality of the war and of a soldier’s sacrifice to life in a way photographs cannot.
“When I was younger I noticed my friends didn’t know much about the war except through grainy black and white photos,” Marritt said. “If you show (these items) it makes it more real. I want people to know what the soldiers went through, what they sacrificed.”
For Alexander, a family connection sparked his interest in collecting.
“Zelotes Eschmeyer was my grandfather,” Alexander said. “He served in World War II in the 5th Infantry Division and was a POW the last year of the war. I was fascinated growing up with some of his stories.”
Alexander said his most cherished item is his grandfather’s dog tags. Alexander has been collecting military items for about 10 years and he has a couple of bookcases filled with items.
Alexander’s collection is mainly from World War II, with many items from the 5th Infantry and 5th Air Force. Alexander’s grand uncle served in the U.S. Air Force and was killed in action in the South Pacific.
Marritt and Alexander find many of their items on eBay, but they also shop at flea markets and garage sales.
Occasionally, some one learns of their collections and will give them military pieces from their families.
Alexander has shared the stories of his collection with his daughter’s classmates. Marritt has shown his collection at various museums as far away as Michigan. The two have put up a display inside one of the cases inside entrance of the St. Marys Community Public Library.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 23 May 2008 )
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