Valerie is the proud granddaughter of Stanley Kupi, PFC in the 14^th Armored Division of WWII, famously known as “The Liberators”.  Stanley left behind a remarkable legacy of rare photographs, artwork, and a candid WWII memoir that the family is now sharing with the world.  With the help of experts from around the globe, Valerie has uncovered the historical significance of these photographs, which vividly depict the war through Stanley’s eyes.

As a skilled artist, Stanley also created v-mail postcards to his wife that are now proudly displayed at the Fort Chaffee Military Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas- sharing space with iconic artifacts like Elvis Presley’s military haircut memorabilia.  Join Valerie for an unforgettable journey through Stanley’s story, where she will recount his division’s efforts which resulted in the liberation of over 60 towns and villages, including the largest Nazi prison camp.

When: July 8, 2025 at 6:00PM

Cost: FREE for members; $7 for non-members (tickets include a self-guided tour of the museum in addition to the program)

About the Speaker: Valerie Coleman

Valerie Coleman is a current graduate student at The Ohio State University College of Social Work. She is a 1999 graduate of Defiance College where she obtained her bachelor’s in human resource management and minored in economics. While at Defiance, she played four years of Varsity Volleyball and was a co-captain of the team her senior year. After spending 24 years as a human resource professional, she decided to pursue her life’s passion of helping people directly in the social services realm. She currently interns at a local nursing home facility and hopes to help as many seniors as possible during the next step in her career.