The Forgotten Warriors Vietnam Museum is located in Cape May, New Jersey. If unfamiliar with the area…it sits right across the street from the Cape May County Airport. The museum is open year-round and is FREE to visit, although they do have a donation bucket located at the front door.
We’re big military supporters and every time we travel we seek out these type’s of museums and/or memorials that honor our military heroes. We try to pay our respects as often as we can. Plus, you will learn things at these type’s of museums that you won’t learn in history books at school.
What’s really cool about this place is that a lot of the items on exhibit are from a Vietnam Vet’s personal collection. Then the remaining items were given to him or were loaned to the museum to be put on display. A lot of these items won’t be seen in any other museum and some are one-of-a-kind.
Everything here is handicap accessible. It’s a small place and every exhibit is located on the first floor. If you’re in a wheelchair or use a scooter, you’ll have no problem getting around. Parking is right out front, so you don’t have far to walk and they’re rarely crowded unless hosting a special event.
In front of the building they have a Vietnam Memorial that honors our heroes, MIA and POWs. It’s a beautiful memorial and I felt really humbled to see it. There are replica military boats, artillery guns, etc. also located outside for you to check out before heading in.
Once inside you’ll see all kinds of different military items on display. We saw uniforms, hats, other type’s of clothing, medals, patches, photographs, books, documents related to the war, model airplanes & fighter jets, artillery, weapons, POW jewelry bands, war related posters, flags, a military jeep, etc. There were several items that soldiers bought in Vietnam and sent them back home to their loved ones.
There was a display of MIA POW jewelry that included bracelet bands and pins that our POWs had to wear when in captivity. That really got me choked up to see them and to be able to read names that were printed on them. Oh my gosh…a humbling experience and it really helped to put the war into perspective. Sigh.
If you’re planning to visit the Forgotten Warriors Vietnam Museum you’ll want to allow about an hour in schedule. You’ll want to dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. This museum is NOT for children, although people do bring their children along with them. There is nothing there for children to do, so I recommend it for adults and perhaps older children & teenagers.
Hubby and I spent an entire hour there looking at all of the different items they had on exhibit. Definitely some interesting things that we haven’t seen elsewhere. A great little stop while we were visiting Cape May in New Jersey.
It is sad that this is still the forgotten war. I would enjoy visiting this museum.
I think I’d get choked up at this place, too. Seeing the POW wrist bands would be especially poignant.
I have some friends that our Vietnam Vets and I am so appreciative for their service. It is important that we always remember those who serve.
It is so sad that they named it the Forgotten … those of us that lived in that era have never forgotten them. All my friends did come back but I have forgotten those that did not. I would like to see the museum.