Discovering the M.V. Museum
Martha's Vineyard Times File Photo
David Nathan, the museum's executive director, stands in front of a Boeing Stearman, a trainer for future pilots during the 1930s and 40s. 
[More Photos]
The Martha's Vineyard Museum held its 12th annual Evening of Discovery on Thursday, July 15, at the Vose family's spectacular Tower Hill site overlooking Edgartown Harbor.
Cocktails and a silent auction preceded a sit-down dinner for the 300 attendees presented by V. Jaime Hamlin catering. A live auction followed dinner. Gail Farrish chaired the museum's Special Events Committee that organized the evening, and approximately 100 businesses and individuals donated goods and services to the auctions.
After welcoming the assembled guests, Sheldon Hackney recognized several veterans of World War II who were in attendance — Clifton Athearn, Mev Good, Curtis Jones, Anne Lesnikowski, Nelson Smith, and Maurice Vanderpol — as part of the continuing World War II exhibit at the museum created by Linsey Lee, the museum's oral history curator, and assistant curator Anna Carringer. Mr. Hackney provided brief but moving descriptions of the veterans' participation in the war.
The introductions were followed by a spirited rendition of "America the Beautiful" led by Ed Rodgers on trumpet, with many in the audience singing along.
On Saturday, the museum arranged for a pair of WW II vintage aircraft to fly into Katama Airfield, yet another element in the ongoing WW II exhibit. A North American AT-6F was flown in by Reese Dill of Weston, and David Fetherston of Mansfield flew his Boeing Stearman PT-17 to the show.
The WW II exhibit at the museum continues through Labor Day.
