Lee Pryor Speaks about WWII Museum

Tom DeRiemer introduced our guest speaker, Lee Pryor, from the World War II Museum in Natick. It was an appropriate theme for November 11^th as we remembered our servicemen and women. Lee began with a brief personal background (Army counterintelligence in Japan between Korea & Vietnam). He is now Vice President of the Museum with the task to raise money for the museum as a 501 (c)(3). The founder and Director is Kenneth W. Rendell.  Rendell amassed his fortune by successfully putting together rare book libraries for clients. From his office on Rt. 16 in South Natick he acquired valuable international contacts that supported his interest in military history specifically about World War II. His museum at 8 Mercer Road in

Natick now houses over 7,000 artifacts including original documents resulting from Rendell’s interest in scholarship. This allows for more in-depth historic research, something more developed, Pryor said, than in the New Orleans World War II Museum. He gave many examples including Patton’s copy of Hitler’s Mein Kampf. He described the environment leading up to the war including the roll of communism vs. fascism and the pervasive economic depression. Pryor expressed the need to educate a new generation about the war as the old one dies off. Rendell is turning over the reins, expanding his museum and hopes to raise $25 million. Lee told many fascinating stories including the role of submarines on the east and west coast (Fatal Dive by Peter Stevens), how a downed pilot was found in Germany and much more. He invited all to come visit the museum. Maybe a good place to hold a meeting sometime?