The Richard I. Bong World War II Heritage Center honors WWII participants both at home and on the front lines. Named for America’s Ace of Aces and Medal of Honor recipient, Major Richard Bong, the center is located in Bong’s birthplace of Superior, Wisconsin. The heritage center was commissioned in 1989 by the Bong P-38 Fund, Inc., formerly known as the Richard Ira Bong Memorial Foundation, established in 1945 after the death of Dick Bong. The Bong P-38 Fund is a 501 (c)(3).

Years of planning and hard work were celebrated with the opening of the heritage center on September 24, 2002, which would have been Dick Bong’s 82nd birthday. WWII veterans and other guests from as far afield as Washington, D.C., and Scotland gathered in Superior to participate in ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

“As a Vietnam veteran, a fighter pilot and Wisconsin tourism advocate,” said Moose Speros, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, “it is a special honor to promote the Bong Heritage Center as an inspirational and educational attraction, especially at a time when our entire nation is remembering the courage and sacrifices of our country’s heroes.”

Marge Bong Drucker, who was first introduced to the national public in 1943 as sweetheart of the already-famous Dick Bong, said, “When Dick was killed in 1945 just six months after our wedding, I was devastated, along with the rest of the country. For 40 years I couldn’t talk about it. But when the heritage center was commissioned in 1989, I had to get involved--to honor both Dick, my first love, and all the brave veterans who never saw themselves as heroes but truly defined the word ‘hero.’ I feel a great release with the opening of this center, and I know that other people from my era will feel similarly. This is our place, our story, our chance to help younger generations understand what we did and what it means to them today.”