Dunn's General Lee museum set to re-open

He is undoubtedly the lesser known of the famous General Lees, but General William C. Lee was perhaps more important in the annals of history than the other, more revered Robert E.

"Bill" Lee was a native of Dunn, and is known throughout that area (but perhaps rarely anywhere else) as the "Father of the Airborne." It was Lee who encouraged the U.S. military to begin using paratroopers -- a decision that ultimately led to victory in World War II. In fact, when paratroopers jumped from planes in the invasion of Normandy, they tossed aside the usual yell of "Geronimo!" in favor of "Bill Lee!"

Now Lee's hometown is set to re-open the Gen. William C. Lee Museum -- which is actually his former home.

From the Fayetteville Observer:

A lifelike mannequin of Gen. William C. Lee sits at a desk in his living room, now a museum dedicated to his legacy as the father of the airborne forces.

He is looking at a map of Europe as a radio broadcast of the D-Day invasion plays in the background. His wife, Dava, also depicted as a strikingly lifelike mannequin, stands over him. Her hands rest on his shoulders.

It is believed that in this setting in 1944 the real Gen. Lee listened to the pivotal World War II invasion that he had helped plan before suffering a heart attack.

The exhibit is among new displays at the Dunn museum in Lee’s three-story brownstone. The Gen. William C. Lee Commission spent almost $400,000 to renovate the museum by adding state-of-the-art exhibits that interweave Lee’s personal life with airborne history.

The commission plans to unveil the improvements during a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. on June 6, the 62nd anniversary of the D-Day invasion. The ceremony kicks off a series of events to mark the 20th anniversary of the museum.

“It far exceeds our expectations,” said Chuck Turnage, who serves on the commission. He is the chairman of the celebration committee.

The Observer also offers a terrific photographic slideshow about the Lee Museum. View it here.