Old military uniforms on display Memorial Day weekend

WILLSHIRE, Ohio (WANE)- An Ohio flooring store closed this weekend and reopened as a museum.  Willshire Home Furnishings in Willshire, Ohio was transformed into a military museum for Memorial Day weekend.  Aleta Weiss started this project last year to honor her father.

“This is an honor to do something for him,” Weiss said. “He was in World War II and I knew nothing about his war years because he wouldn’t talk about it. When he passed away I got to digging and found out he was in six major battles.”

Weiss was excited when she found things her father kept over the years.

 “When I found all his stuff and all his memorabilia that I just wanted to get it up as soon as I could!” Weiss said enthusiastically.

Last year, there were only 28 military uniforms on display. This year, that nearly doubled to 52 uniforms, four of which were from soldiers who died in battle. The uniforms and other artifacts on display range from World War I to Afghanistan and Iraq of today.

Many people from the small town went through the store Sunday.

“I think it's great that somebody started something that can bring the community together,” Willie Neuenschwander said. “When I see this, it's just thrilling.  It puts goose bumps down my back.  It's just great.”

Weiss said it took about two months to get the story ready for display.

“Everyone asked me if I wanted help putting it all together and I said no," she said.  "I just absolutely want to interact with what I’m doing and I just shed a lot of tears for this because it means so much to me what these boys and ladies do."

Weiss said she plans to continue the display again next year. 

The display will be open Monday from 9-6 and Willshire Home Furnishings will reopen as a flooring store on Tuesday.