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Visitors, and Counting...! voLumE 10, IssuE 2 mARcH 2012 1,000,000 Inside this issue: visitors, and counting...! Black Knights and 2 The National Infantry Museum VIPs visit museum and Soldier Center celebrated its one-millionth visitor on March 20, Infantry Grads 3 2012, two-and-a-half months shy of receive fi rst coins its third anniversary. The distinction went to the Sturdi- 2012 Gala plans 4 vant family of Birmingham, Alabama. announced 13-year-old Thomas Sturdivant had convinced the family to make Historic Columbus 5 a spring break trip to the museum. salutes city/post The young military buff had been connection here once before with his father and (continued on page 2) Reunion planners 6 discover what museum offers Coin Sales Off to Brisk Start Spring Fling Film 6 The sale of the 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar is off to an im- Fest free for kids pressive start. Four weeks into the program, the United States Mint reported that 157,700 coins had been sold, representing more than Registration open 8 half of the 350,000 maximum number of coins the Mint is authorized for Summer Camp to strike and issue. The proof version of the coin Benning -- the higher quality coin with the highly polished surface -- has been the best seller so far. The special edition Defenders of Freedom set, which encases the coin in a custom folder and includes commemorative dog tags, is nearly sold out. More than 42,000 of the maximum A PUBLICATION 50,000 of that version have been purchased. OF THE The coins will be available until December or NATIONAL until they are sold out. If all coins are purchased, INFANTRY the National Infantry Foundation will receive $3.5 CSM Brian Hamm presents a coin to one of the graduates of F Company, FOUNDATION million. • Read more about the coin on page 3 • 2d Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment. PAGE 2 THE INFANTRY HERITAGE LETTER Game Day Draws Crowds and VIPs The Army Chief of Staff, the Army’s TRADOC Commander, a team of football players and new Infantry graduates converged on the museum on a single Friday in March. West Point’s Black Knights football team had traveled from New York to hold their first ever spring scrimmage away from the academy. The players’ started Game Day by attending a graduation of Infantry Soldiers at the National Infantry Museum. Afterward they filled up on protein and carbs at a mid-morning brunch in the Grand Hall. Next, a tour of the museum and finally, the bus ride back to Doughboy Stadium to suit up for the 2 p.m. kickoff. (continued on page 7) Museum docent Owen Ditchfield tells one group of National Infantry Foundation executives welcome cadets about the heroes honored in the Hall of Valor. Army Chief of Staff GEN Ray Odierno and MG Bob Brown to the museum. and an awesome surprise.” 1,000,000th Visitor Thomas and his father visited the museum in May (continued from page 1) 2010 with a Boy Scout group led by a retired Infantry officer. Jim, a Birmingham attorney, served as an of- couldn’t wait to bring the rest of the family. ficer in the Army JAG Corps. He first heard about the Thomas and his parents, Jim and Susan Sturdi- museum when it opened in June 2009. vant, and 19-year-old brother Daniel, were given a “I heard years ago this place was something else, bag full of gifts including IMAX and combat simulator but it really is something. Everything is great, from passes, a Fife and Drum restaurant gift card, a gift the exhibits to people working here,” he said. certificate for a commemorative paver on Heritage Thomas even had the chance to reunite with Walk and more. National Infantry Foundation Presi- docent Taylor Reynolds from his tour two years ago. dent Ben Williams and Executive Vice President “I remember my favorite part of the museum last time Greg Camp presented them with a 2012 Infantry that I visited was the Vietnam jungle exhibit. It was so Soldier Silver Dollar. hot in there and seemed so real,” said Thomas. “This is a big day for us,” Williams said. “It’s a real Thomas attends Pizitz Middle School in Birming- accomplishment to reach the million-visitor milestone ham; Daniel is a student at Vestavia High School. in less than three years. And the family that hap- The Sturdivant family was visiting Callaway Gardens pened to walk through the doors at the right time is and made a day trip to the museum and Fort Ben- the perfect embodiment of our mission. The father ning. is a veteran, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see the “This was a perfect way to spend Spring Break,” middle schooler attend one of the service academies. Susan said. “My son just told me this was one of the We’re proud to have them here.” best days of his life, next to Auburn’s national cham- Thomas was a little concerned the planned visit pionship.” wouldn’t happen. “When we were walking up to the Thomas may get yet another chance to visit the museum I saw everyone standing there and we museum. The goodie bag the family received includ- thought there may be some type of malfunction and ed a free session at the museum’s Summer Camp could not go in,” said Thomas. “But this is very cool Benning. PAGE 3 National Advisory Board GEN Ed Burba, Chairman GEN John Abizaid Infantry Graduates Receive First Coins LTG Jerry Bates MG J.B. Burns The 2012 Infantry Secretary of Army Bo Callaway Soldier Silver Dollar was Judge Aaron Cohn MG Paul Eaton released for sale on Febru- GEN Larry Ellis ary 16. The following day, MG Carl Ernst the program was launched LTG Tom Fields at a graduation of Infantry GEN John Foss Soldiers. Each graduate Mr. Joe Galloway LTG Dave Grange was presented a coin by an Mrs. Richard Hallock active duty or retired com- GEN William Hartzog mand sergeant major. Afl ac GEN Jay Hendrix CEO Dan Amos was guest MG Lincoln Jones speaker at the graduation. A new grad shows off his coin to a proud relative. GEN George Joulwan Afterward, graduates, fami- GEN Buck Kernan SMA Richard Kidd lies and members of the community enjoyed patriotic music by the Central MG Will Latham High School Symphonic and Jazz Band, grilled burgers on the lawn and LTG John LeMoyne had the opportunity to be among the fi rst to take home one of the limited MG Ken Leuer edition silver dollars. Within 24 hours, the museum’s gift store had sold out GEN Jim Lindsay its fi rst shipment. GEN Bill Livsey “We’re extremely pleased with how well the Secretary of Army John Marsh GEN Barry McCaffrey coin is selling,” said National Infantry Founda- Honorable Bob Poydasheff tion President Ben Williams. “But we still have COL Ralph Puckett a long way to go before we can call it a victory. Mr. Tom Rabaut Now we have to make sure the word gets out to LTG Ben Register every single active GEN Bill Richardson duty or retired U.S. Gov. Tom Ridge GEN Norman Schwarzkopf Army Infantryman COL Mike Sierra in the world.” LTG Mike Spigelmire Coins can be LTG Mike Steele purchased on the MG William Steele Mint’s website at Mr. Mat Swift www.usmint.gov/ Mr. Fred Taylor Mr. William Turner B.B. Craig, associate catalog. A limited Mr. Jim Weaver director of sales and supply is avail- LTG Sam Wetzel marketing for the United able in the Soldier MG Jerry White States Mint, shows off Store inside the MG Walt Wojdakowski his Infantry blue tie dur- museum. LTG John Wright ing graduation ceremo- BG Jim Yarbrough nies Board of Directors LTG Carmen Cavezza, Chairman Above: Command sergeants Dr. Frank Brown major -- both active duty and Mr. Tim Farmer retired -- leave the fi eld after Mr. Sam Friedman handing out the Infantry Sil- Dr. Jack Goldfrank ver Dollars to graduates. Mr. Julius Hunter COL Robert Jordan Dr. Eddie Obleton Left: Afl ac’s Dan Amos Dr. Robin Pennock posed with graduating Sol- Mr. Jack Pezold diers. The Fortune 500 CEO Mrs. Jean Puckett Dr. Carl Savory said he was “humbled” by the Dr. Robert Wright opportunity to speak to them. PAGE 4 Buffalo Soldiers Continue Tradition of Giving The Buffalo Soldiers, a motorcycle group honoring the legacy of the famous African-American units estab- lished by Congress in 1866, made another donation to the National Infantry Museum this year. The group has delivered a check every year since the museum’s opening. 1775 Society Gala Plans Announced “Benning Beginnings” is set for Saturday, Aug. with a look back at the 1920s – a decade when the 18! This year’s black-tie gala will focus on Fort Ben- close relationship between the post and the Valley ning’s early years as a new resi- was cemented forever. dent in the Chattahoochee Valley. Members of the Museum’s pres- It was in 1922 that Camp Benning tigious 1775 Society receive two moved to its current location from complimentary tickets to the gala. The the temporary one off Macon Road. evening will include a cocktail recep- The War Department made it a tion, silent auction, dinner and dancing. permanent Army post and changed Tickets are also available to the the name from Camp Benning to general public for $150 each. To Fort Benning. With this in mind, the purchase tickets or for more in- National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center plans formation, contact Jane Bayer at 706-685-2604 or to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Fort Benning [email protected].
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