A 25,000 square foot facility that will house a collection of World War II armor at Old Bethpage Village Restoration will begin construction on Monday. The Museum of American Armor has selected Pratt Brothers as the firm that will break ground on Sept. 30 for the museum at 1303 Round Swamp Road in Old Bethpage.
“This is far more than just another ground breaking for our company,” said James Pratt, III, president of Pratt Brothers. “This is an opportunity to be part of a project that will honor every serviceman and woman who has defended our country. There is not a single family on Long Island who won’t be touched by this unique museum whose exhibits are powerful reminders of valor in the face of conflict.”
“With a $1 million gift from Museum of American Armor founder Lawrence Kadish and a recently awarded New York State Economic Development Corporation grant of $1 million we are creating a powerful public-private partnership that will strategically strengthen heritage tourism in Nassau County,” added Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano.
Virtually all of the museum’s operational vehicles will be on public display including the iconic Sherman tank, a Stuart light tank often deployed by the Marines during their WW II Pacific campaigns, a 155 mm howitzer, reconnaissance vehicles that acted as armored scouts for American forces, anti-aircraft guns and similar weapons that broke the back of the Axis powers during World War II.
Other vehicles range from a classic LaSalle staff car in the markings of a Fleet Admiral, to jeeps, weapons carriers and half-tracks.
Special operational weekends are planned, during which World War II living historians will mount joint operations with the armor and take to the fields of Old Bethpage Village Restoration to demonstrate how these weapons were deployed. At other times, the armor will be displayed on the ramp at the American Airpower Museum or at parades and special events throughout the bi-county area.
The construction effort is being supervised by Blumenfeld Development Group. Cameron Engineering and Gaddis Architects are providing professional support. Gencon Construction Corporation is donating their labor to erect the building.
Gencon President Joe Ainoris said his company is donating their labor as a way of honoring the men and women who have served our nation.
“It is rare for one to be allowed to help create a building that will house vehicles that represent the incredible courage of young Americans asked to defend our freedom,” Ainoris said.
