Sea Services Museum Wants To Expand

Since it opened eight years ago, the Military Sea Services Museum has attracted donations of artifacts from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard veterans and their families from around the state and the country.

While most of the artifacts come from World War II, the displays range from brass spikes made by American Revolution patriot Paul Revere for construction of a naval ship in 1825 to a recent flight suit worn by Naval and Marine jet pilots.

On Monday, Howard Fleetwood, president of the museum, announced that the museum board of directors is hoping for an expansion.

"We've grown so much that we need more space if we want to make this museum something to be proud of," he said as a guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Highlands County Homeowners Association.

Fleetwood said the museum board hopes to add 1,300 square feet onto the building, leased by the city of Sebring, at the corner of Kenilworth Boulevard. and Roseland Avenue.

"We're just in the infant stage," he said about the major task of raising the estimated $100,000.

Fleetwood said the museum's board hopes to find a volunteer familiar with grant writing who can help in putting together a grant application.

Open from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, the museum is dedicated to preserving the traditions of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Admission is $2 for people age 65 and up and $3 for those under 65. Active duty members of the military are admitted free.

In addition to hundreds of artifacts, the museum also includes a library with several hundred books plus video histories.

Gene Kissner, treasurer of the museum and, like Fleetwood, a Navy veteran, said he hopes the museum can expand. Keeping history alive is important, he said, "so people don't forget there were some real heroes, and their stories need to be told."