The National Park Service announced on December 28 the designation of 11 communities across the United States as American World War II Heritage Cities.
The American World War II Heritage Cities Program honors the contributions of local towns, cities, counties and their citizens who stepped into the workforce to support America’s war effort during World War II. Only one American World War II Heritage City can be designated in each state or territory.
The 11 newly designated communities are:
• Foley, Alabama
• Tempe, Arizona
• Richmond, California
• Wilmington, Delaware
• Waterloo, Iowa
• Baltimore County, Maryland
• Johnson County and Warrensburg, Missouri (joint community nomination)
• Hastings, Nebraska
• Boulder City and Henderson, Nevada (joint community nomination)
• Yonkers, New York
• Bedford County, Virginia
World War II permeated every aspect of American life and resulted in a large migration of people within the United States. Individuals and families relocated to industrial centers for good-paying war jobs and out of a sense of patriotic duty. Many industrial centers became “boom towns,” growing at phenomenal rates. Workers from around the nation had to intermingle with each other and overcome differences to meet war demands, forever changing the cultural landscape of the United States.
Contributions by a city to the World War II home front war effort include defense manufacturing, such as ships, aircraft, uniforms, and equipment; production of food and consumer items for Armed Forces and home consumption; volunteer participation; and civil defense preparedness.
The World War II Heritage Cities program was established by the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019 to recognize the historic importance of the United States’ domestic involvement in World War II and ensure the continued preservation of a defining period in American history. This year’s additions follow the inaugural designation of Wilmington, North Carolina, in September 2020.
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Richmond, Ca over San Diego? 🤔 Hmmm
We are proud of the efforts of Wilmington NC during WWII and years following the war and to be the first World War Two Heritage City to be recognized. As the years go by the efforts by the greatest generation will be forgotten and probably dropped for our history books. It’s vital that follow on generations understand what it took to be free. Come to our port city and visit your heritage.
Thank you, RV Travel! With parts of history being rewritten, it is nice to see some of it being preserved and defended. 🙂 Happy new year, y’all! 🙂
Richmond, CA, was a major nexus of defense production. Kaiser Ship was producing several new ships each week while near the shipyards Ford was producing Jeeps, trucks and airplanes. Rosy the Riveter National Park is now on the premises.