Gordon Kennedy holds a Vietnam War-era helmet that he's displaying at the American Legion Post 117 hall.

A collection of military gear dating back to the Civil War is on display to the public Monday for Veterans Day.

The private collection of war equipment is at the American Legion Post 117 hall on Main Street in Butler for one day only. The pieces all belong to Butler resident Gordon Kennedy, 58, a U.S. Army veteran and 20-year member of the legion.

This is Kennedy’s third year displaying his stash of military gear at the hall. Usually, it fills a spare room in his house, but he likes to bring it all out to show whenever he can.

“Everyone needs to see the history,” Kennedy said. “Some of this stuff, I don’t know how they ever even used it. It’s not built for comfort.”

Read more in Monday's Butler Eagle.