Thursday, October 1, 2026
Museum Hours: 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. | Presentation: 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Join the American Heritage Museum for a special History After Hours presentation with Captain Mike Penn, a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, Vietnam War prisoner of war, airline pilot, and author of Hope and Courage.
Penn dreamed of becoming a military aviator from an early age. After completing college and earning his commission, he entered the demanding world of naval aviation, where discipline, teamwork, leadership, and attention to detail were essential to survival. His career would ultimately test those qualities under circumstances few could imagine.
During the Vietnam War, Penn was shot down, captured, and imprisoned in North Vietnam. He spent eight months as a prisoner of war in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton,” enduring isolation, physical abuse, fear, and uncertainty. Through communication, teamwork, faith, and a determination never to give up, Penn and his fellow prisoners found ways to resist despair and preserve their sense of purpose.
In this deeply personal presentation, Penn will share the story of his captivity and the lessons he carried home. He will discuss how hope, courage, attitude, and deliberate choices can help people confront even the most overwhelming obstacles. His experience demonstrates how ordinary individuals can summon extraordinary resilience when circumstances demand it.
Penn will also discuss his book, Hope and Courage, which transforms the lessons of captivity into a broader examination of perseverance and the human capacity to overcome adversity. More than a wartime memoir, the book explores how people can respond to hardship with conviction, recover from setbacks, and continue moving forward when success appears impossible.
This special evening offers an opportunity to hear an extraordinary firsthand account of service, sacrifice, survival, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.