"Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America."

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, general, decorated military leader, coordinator of Operation Overlord (D-Day invasion) 
 

The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial's focus on education will not only honor past achievements of Michigan's WWII history, but will inspire future generations to live out the values of the Greatest Generation.​​​​​​​

The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial will be an interactive site using the latest technology to create an environment for learning. 

Educators from across the state are being recuited to develop an online curriculum focusing on Michigan's role in WWII. Drawing from the rich histories of our veterans and original Rosie the Riveters, the learning experience will come alive for students of all ages.

Interactive technology will be employed to make the memorial engaging as a classroom for future generations, whether gathering as a class on a field trip or attending with their family.

The war effort created needs that spurred the creative minds of engineers, scientists, and researchers. Michigan was the birthplace for much of the war's science, technology, engineering and mathematical research, providing the foundation for advancements in:

• Military ground transportation, including tanks, jeeps, duckboats

• Assembly line advancements to increase production of bombers and other much needed materials

• Discovery of new materials and processes:

  • The use of milkweed floss to stuff life vests used by seamen. Japanese occupation of Java cut off shipments of kapok, used to stuff life vests. The solution was to use the floss from milkweed pods in a process developed in Petoskey. Men, women, and children collected the pod in bags, coining the phrase, "Two bags save one life."

  • The development of a nickle electoplating process by Chrysler that allowed development of the atomic bomb.

These are but a few of the many advances contributed by Michigan residents, paving the way for future developments in the areas of engineering, medicine, science and teachnology.