Glenn Miller "He gave his life when he didn't need to,"

Museum marks Glenn Miller's disappearance
Des Moines Register
Linh Ta
December 14, 2014

"He gave his life when he didn't need to," Yellin said. "The young people have to understand that they have to be up close and personal."

The museum displays items from musician Glenn Miller’s life and World War II service on Sunday.
(Photo: Linh Ta/The Register)

It's been 70 years since musician Glenn Miller disappeared over the English Channel during World War II, but even now, his music lives on.

On Sunday, the Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum in Clarinda remembered the disappearance of the Iowa native, and held a ceremony in honor of not only his musical contributions, but his contributions to the U.S. Army.

Miller, known for leading the Glenn Miller Orchestra to several top hits in the late 1930s and early 1940s, enlisted in the Army at age 38, despite making $15,000 to $20,000 a week in his musical career. After being denied at first because of his age, he was assigned to the Army Air Forces, and used his music to boost troops' morale.

"He felt that the biggest impact he could have was joining the service," said Rick Finch, director of the museum. "I think that we sometimes forget that service now."
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