Keith Colley on a mission to honor century-old promise

Keith Colley is on a one-man mission to keep a century-old promise made to World War I veterans returning home and to families of soldiers who didn't return.

“They were told the sacrifices they made would never be forgotten,” he said.

The Dallas, Texas resident has developed a traveling World War I Museum, using his own money.

On the first day it was open at the Fort Miles Museum in Lewes, more than 600 people attended.

As a teacher of senior citizens, Cooley said he had no intentions of developing a museum, but was looking to establish a program about the war. He purchased a World War I shovel used in the trenches three years ago to use as a prop, and the rest is history.

His program was so well received, he started purchasing more memorabilia. He then decided he should take his program on the road.

Besides a wide array of artifacts, posters, photographs and newspaper articles, the museum offers videotaped interviews with World War I veterans. It also highlights the journey of veteran Ernest Loucks during and after the war.

He said he looks for pieces that are good conversation starters. One of those is a rare entrenching tool complete with barbed wire. “It helps to tell the story that the war was fought in 25,000 miles of trenches,” he said. “Each piece comes with an incredible story.”

All but one of the museum's artifacts were found through internet searches. A 48-star flag – prominently displayed – belonged to his great-grandfather, a peanut farmer who was not permitted to enlist because farmers were needed at home to produce food.

“But he flew that flag every day from his porch,” Colley said. “We thought it was lost but found it when my parents got the family home when it was foreclosed.”

He said one of the most treasured pieces is a warning bell used to signal that gas was entering the trenches. “As soon as soldiers heard the ringing, they would put on their gas masks. It helped save thousands of lives,” he said.

During his research, Colley discovered a relative who was a war hero. Sgt. Harold Colley, a 23-year-old, was credited with saving 1,200 of his fellow soldiers on a French battlefield. He was shot and killed on the same day of the battle, Aug. 23, 1918.

After his Lewes stop, Colley will head to the Texas State Fair – the nation's largest – where the museum will be seen by 2.4 million people. It will also be on display aboard the U.S.S. Texas, the last remaining World War I battleship. He still has plans to take the museum to as many senior centers and assisted living facilities as he can.

The museum is on display at the Fort Miles Museum in Cape Henlopen State Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Aug. 18, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19. Admission to the museum is free with paid admission to the state park.

The program is partially funded by a Delaware Humanities grant.