In February 1993, History Professor Paulis Lazda of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire proposed to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia the establishment of a museum dealing with the period 1940–1991, when Latvia was an occupied country. In the spring of 1993, 11 persons founded the Occupation Museum Foundation (OMF), now – Occupation Museum Association (OMB) – to establish, administer and finance the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia. As a private museum, the Museum of the Occupation is financially and thus – politically independent. On 1 July 1993 the first exposition of the Museum was opened in the building of the former Latvian Red Riflemen’s Museum. The Museum of the Occupation plays an essential role in restoring and reinforcing historical awareness and consciousness in Latvia. The mission of the Museum of the Occupation is expressed in its motto: Remembering, Commemorating, Reminding.