WHAT: “Cookeville Veteran: Bennett Travis” pop-up exhibit 
WHEN: Exhibit: Nov. 6-17; World War II lecture: Nov. 11, 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Cookeville City Hall, 45 E. Broad St.
ADMISSION: Free
CONTACT: Cookeville History Museum, 931-520-5455
PHOTO: Army Air Corps pilot Bennett Travis, a Cookeville native who died during World War II, will be spotlighted in a Cookeville History Museum “pop-up” exhibit Nov. 6-17 at Cookeville City Hall.
Veteran exhibit to ‘pop up’ Nov. 6 at Cookeville City Hall
COOKEVILLE – A Cookeville History Museum exhibit that pays tribute to a Cookeville veteran will “pop up” Nov. 6 in the Cookeville City Hall lobby.
“A ‘pop-up exhibit’ is a small exhibit that we put together to pop up in different places throughout the community,” Pam Philpot, exhibit specialist, said.
The first in the series, “Cookeville Veteran: Bennett Travis,” will showcase the life of an Army Air Corps pilot, who was born in 1919 and killed in 1945 in the Philippines during World War II. The exhibit continues through Nov. 17.
“We chose Bennett Travis as our first Cookeville veteran to recognize because his family graciously donated many of his belongings to the Cookeville History Museum this year,” Philpot said.
“We think it is important to recognize the local young men who fought so bravely for the many freedoms we value today. It is heart-wrenching to see his belongings and to think about the sacrifice this young Cookeville man made for his country.”
In addition to the exhibit, Tennessee Tech University History Department Chair Jeff Roberts will present a short lecture on World War II on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at 10:30 a.m. in the City Hall council chambers. A reception will follow.
City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Admission to the exhibit and lecture is free.
For more information about Cookeville History Museum pop-up exhibits, call 931-520-5455.
“If you would like to have our exhibit ‘pop up’ in your location – such as a school, bank or library – please contact us,” Beth Thompson, Cookeville museums manager, said.
Philpot added, “We hope this community outreach will stir interest in local history and send more visitors to the museum.”