the backstory
About the Veterans Museum
We are Veterans and Grateful Descendants of Veterans
The Veterans Museum was born from a deeply personal moment of discovery — and a legacy of service that continues to inspire everything we do. Our mission is to collect, preserve, and share veteran stories to honor service and educate future generations.
A Family Legacy Recovered
Our founders are veterans and grateful descendants of veterans. In September 2017, after Hurricane Irma, while cleaning the flooded home of WWII veteran Maj. William J. Hicklin, Jr. (USAAF) and his wife Mignonette “Mig” Hicklin, a long-lost military journal was discovered. Damaged but salvageable, this journal included personal reflections and four never-before-seen photographs taken on D-Day, showing the 101st Airborne gliders preparing for the second wave from Aldermaston Air Field in England.
This incredible find also revealed a D-Day-related Bronze Star award — one the family never even knew existed. Inspired by the discovery, the family created a 30-minute professional documentary titled One Man’s War, which received praise at civic, military, and religious gatherings, often attended by Mig Hicklin herself — who lived to nearly 101 years old.
From Personal Story to Public Vision
After Mig Hicklin’s passing in 2021, and with support from her estate, her wish to honor veterans’ stories became a vision: the creation of the Veterans Museum. Her dream — and her husband’s legacy — became a gift not only to their family but to the wider veteran community.
As that dream was forming, another historic project was arriving in Jacksonville: the USS Orleck (DD-886), a warship museum supported by a decade of work and a major State of Florida grant. The Veterans Museum and the Orleck formed a relationship rooted in mutual support and shared values. Together, they worked toward a shared goal: preserving and telling the stories of American military service.
Launching on a Historic Date
Thanks to support from local veterans, civic leaders, and the community, the Veterans Museum officially launched on June 6, 2024 — the 80th anniversary of D-Day. It was a fitting tribute to a museum born from a D-Day journal, and to a family legacy that now lives on in service to others.
Moving Forward Together
As stewards of veterans’ stories, we honor the Hicklin legacy by collecting, preserving, and sharing these narratives to:
Recognize the service and sacrifice of veterans
Educate our fellow Americans about the cost and courage of military service
Strengthen the connection between generations, civilians, and service members
We invite you to be part of this work. Help us carry this mission forward.
We hope you will join us and support us!
Learn more about the mission of the Veterans Museum and how to join
Explore the USS Orleck Naval Museum in Jacksonville
Review Florida nonprofit status at the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
