Frisco, TX – The largest traveling museum in the United States made a stop in Frisco. Members of the city council threw a banquet in its honor.

Keith Colley, a former bereavement counselor, owns and operates the museum.

It started as a way to connect with veterans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Colley purchased a World War I artifact for his client to hold and was amazed at what it caused this veteran to remember about his father who served in World War I.

“I knew we had to move forward somehow someway with this,” Colley said. “So I thought if we could reach one maybe we could reach two or three.”

Colley then began buying World War I artifacts in hopes of making connections with people across the country. His exhibit is now the largest traveling museum in the United States.

The museum, called “Lest We Forget”, has left an impact on both veterans and youth across the country.

“Some people even verbalized it, ‘I hated history before I saw this museum’.” Colley said.

Colley believes it’s the stories behind the artifacts that help people connect with his museum.

“I don’t put anything in the museum that doesn’t come with a story,” Colley said. “So when you come through the museum you’re going to walk away with this complete look at World War 1.”

The museum inspired a Little Elm Boy Scout to make his Eagle Scout project in service to Colley’s exhibit. His project would create a catalog for each artifact in the museum. The scout, Robert Altman, says a copy of the catalog would be given to both Keith and the National Archives and Records Administration.

“From a young age I’ve always loved history and I’ve been very passionate about World War I,” Altman said. “I just feel like as a high schooler myself it just feels very forgotten.”

The city of Frisco held a banquet in Keith’s honor at Collin College Preston Ridge campus. The proceeds went to his museum.

Colley plans to operate the museum for a long time but says he will eventually leave it in Frisco permanently.

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