(GROVEPORT, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that his office has given a $25,000 grant to Motts Military Museum in Groveport to help preserve a historic World War II landing craft known as a Higgins boat, one of the few still in existence in the world.
“I am pleased to be able to help the Motts Military Museum preserve an important part of our military history,” Attorney General DeWine said. “Higgins boats helped transport troops and equipment in World War II, and the Motts Military Museum’s display will help educate new generations of Ohioans about the World War II era.”
The grant will be used to help fund the construction of a steel-framed metal building to house the museum’s restored World War II Higgins boat, or landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP). During the war, Higgins boats were used to transport troops and supplies. Sam Belfiore, the Ohio native who piloted this craft, received a Silver Star for bravery during WWII.
“I am so pleased that the Attorney General is giving us a grant to build a building to cover and protect our Higgins Boat. We have a whole crew restoring the boat, and we want to get it under cover to keep it from deteriorating and to preserve it for future generations,” said Warren E. Motts, the founder and executive director of the Motts Military Museum.
The mission of Motts Military Museum is “To educate the public on the importance of America’s military past through the documentation, collection, interpretation, and preservation of tangible artifacts and personal stories of the men and women who served and are serving in the United States Armed Forces.” The museum is located at 5075 S. Hamilton Road in Groveport.
Funding for the grant comes from fines and settlement payments made to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to be used for charitable purposes.
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Higgins boat (JPEG)
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