April 9th is not just another date on the calendar. There have been several significant events that have taken place on this date over the years. General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant in 1865, effectively ending the Civil War. In 1942, during World War II, the Bataan Death March began and as a result, today the date serves as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. In addition, April 9th, 2003, marks the Fall of Bagdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom. These events and more will be examined through artifacts and stories from the museum’s collection that have some connection to these historical events.
Michael Kraus Bio:
A well-known Civil War historian, Kraus currently works as Curator/Historian for Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. His accomplishments include several historical consultant credits for major films, writing and narrating the documentary series Civil War Minutes and Civil War Life as well as authoring articles and books regarding the conflict. Michael also is an accomplished sculptor with an impressive resume of historically themed works in bronze.
Tim Neff Bio:
Tim Neff began working at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust, Inc. in 2002 as the Director of Education. In 2017, Tim took on the role of Vice President and Director of Museum & Education at Soldiers & Sailors. He is a certified Social Studies teacher and holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh. During his time at Soldiers & Sailors, Tim has developed a variety of museum programs including: interactive and engaging tours and field trips, a footlocker outreach program, Boy Scout merit badge programs, teacher conferences, summer camps, community history events and much more.