DEDICATION of the BERLIN WALL EXHIBIT Military Heritage Museum November 9, 2023 | 4:30 p.m.
West-Berliner climb on the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989, to ask for its fall. After months of mass protests against regime and amid a widening exodus of citizens to the West via Hungary, thousands of East Berliners on Nov. 9, 1989 started streaming toward checkpoints leading to West Berlin.
You are Invited to the Military Heritage Museum’s Newest Exhibit – The Berlin Wall
After almost two years in the making, utilizing three original concrete slabs from the Berlin Wall
taken after the wall was taken down, this exhibit will feature the stories behind the wall and its
pivotal role in the Cold War. Located across from the Huey Helicopter, the ten-foot-high wall is a
full-scale replica of what an original section of the wall looked like. Unlike the more popular vertical
sections of the wall often portrayed with graffiti, the Museum’s exhibit showcases panels taken from
the East Germany side of the wall. Partial sections of the walls facing the East German side placed
slabs horizontal and, because they were heavily guarded by East German soldiers, remained free of
graffiti.
November 9th is an important date as on November 9th, 1989, crowds of Germans began dismantling
the Berlin Wall-a barrier that for almost 30 years had symbolized the Cold War division of Europe.
The East German government built the wall to seal off East Berlin from the part of the city occupied
by the three main western powers the U.S., Great Britain, and France – and to prevent mass
illegal emigration to the West. After massive demonstrations by East Germany citizens, a hastily
news conference was held on November 9th, 1989, during which it was announced that effective
immediately permanent emigration at any border crossing was now allowed. Crowds quickly formed
at the checkpoints and, overwhelmed and grossly outnumbered, the guards opened the crossings.
Soon the crowds began demolishing sections of the Wall. By October 1990, Germany was reunified,
triggering the swift collapse of the other East European regimes.
The Berlin Wall exhibit was an Eagle Scout project led by Life Scout Nathaniel Othon. Assisting
Nathaniel as a mentor and benefactor was Carlton Hughes, Partner and VP Operations with Florida
Premier Contractors. The three slabs incorporated into the wall were donated by the Freedom
Pavilion – Berlin Wall Project. In addition to Florida Premier Contractors, other businesses supporting
the Berlin Wall project include Nova Industrial Arts, Sunseeker Resorts, Suffolk Construction, and
Keesling Construction.