Newsletter of the Capital Campaign for the National Museum of the United States Army The Army Historical Foundation • 2425 Wilson Boulevard • Arlington, Virginia 22201 • www.armyhistory.org MuseuM Receives $1Million DollaR inDiviDual challenge gift Mr. and Mrs. Preston C. Caruthers come,” Caruthers said. “These are the which not only represented a way to of Arlington, Virginia, recently became reasons I support the project, and I am so earn a steady paycheck, but a way to see the first individual $1 million donors proud of the military and what they do.” water – something that had been largely to the National Museum of the United From humble beginnings, Preston absent from his life in the Dust Bowl. States Army Capital Campaign. “Pres” Caruthers knows what poverty Caruthers valued education even “We are extremely fortunate to have is. “I know the frustration of wanting an then in his life and credits the Navy Mr. and Mrs. Caruthers’ support of this education that you can’t have,” he said. for giving him the opportunity to fin- national landmark that will stimulate Knowing that any income would ish high school through correspondence visitors of all ages emotionally and intel- help his family’s situation, Caruthers classes at the United States Armed Forc- lectually, educate them on the Army’s continued to work before and after es Institute in Madison, Wisconsin. and the nation’s history and heritage, and school, working various jobs through- After leaving the Navy in 1946, Ca- create an aura of appreciation and respect out his teen years. In 1944, at the end ruthers moved to Washington, D.C. He for the service and sacrifice of our Sol- of his junior year of high school, he was was accepted into George Washington diers,” said BG Creighton W. Abrams, Jr. finally old enough to enlist in the Navy, continued on page 7 (USA-Ret.), Army Historical Foundation Executive Director, upon notification of the Caruthers’ challenge gift. “This remarkably generous chal- lenge gift to the National Army Muse- um is a testament to their longstanding support of education and their true pa- triotism,” Abrams added. A prominent business executive who has long advocated the importance of education and who possesses a deep appreciation for the selfless service and personal sacrifices of those in the mili- tary, Caruthers attributes the successes that he and his wife have enjoyed over the years to his own military experi- ence, which afforded him an education and a chance to see the world. “The Museum will stand as a testa- ment to the Army’s commitment to our country and its dedication to education, and as a tribute to the sacrifices that our brave Soldiers make for generations to Caruthers, one of Northern Virginia’s most prominent land developers, in his Arlington office. Call To Duty VOLUME 5 ISSUE 4 DECEMBER 2010 new MuseuM suppoRt centeR up anD opeRational The Office of the Chief of Mili- display throughout the National Army tary History’s Museum Support Center Museum’s galleries and exhibits.” (MSC)—a newly constructed 127,000 When artifacts from the central col- square foot facility designed for climate lection are identified or selected for exhib- and environmentally controlled storage it, Mroczkowski said there is ample envi- of 30,000 artifacts and 15,000 paintings ronmentally controlled space throughout and sketches from the Army art collec- the center to stage, prepare for exhibit, and tion—is now operational at Fort Bel- store the exhibit until the Museum is ready voir, Virginia. for that particular display. The center also houses research ar- The Center will also consolidate the chives, workspace for a Soldier artist- entire Museum Division and headquar- in-residence, a photo studio and lab, an ters staff under one roof and will provide exhibit workshop, and a classroom for a unique educational opportunity as a professional training of personnel oper- teaching hub for Army museum personnel ating the Army museum system which worldwide. By centralizing professional consists of over 60 Army field museums training within a state-of-the-art teaching worldwide, to include the system’s fu- gallery, the center staff can create com- MG Herrling examines communications equipment ture capstone, The National Museum of that arrived recently at the new MSC. parison teaching scenarios to illustrate the United States Army. display and lighting techniques that can “The Museum Support Center is up cal sequence for handling and account- be used to improve exhibits and galleries and operational, and it’s a thrill to see ability, from artifact acquisition to place- throughout the Army museum system. how this part of the plan for the Army ment in the collection area”—all of the “Developing the ability to recog- museum system has materialized,” said steps purposeful to the care of the artifact. nize the difference between something BG Creighton W. Abrams, Jr. (USA- “Our goal is to preserve every ar- that looks ‘good’ versus ‘great’ is what Ret.), Army Historical Foundation Ex- tifact, in as pristine condition as pos- we’re striving for,” explained Dr. Cure- ecutive Director, during a recent tour sible, as when it was made or found,” ton. “‘Great’ is what pulls in the visi- of the facility. “The center’s mission explained Dr. Charles Cureton, Director tor—then you engage them, and then is unique within the system, and it and of Army Museums. “We want to do ev- you educate.” those who operate it will be what even- erything we can to slow down deteriora- “The storyline and exhibits at the tually makes the National Museum tion so that 200 years from now it looks National Museum of the United States of the United States Army the unique just as it was intended.” Army will be great,” remarked Abrams; visitor destination we expect it to be,” Mroczkowski pointed out that while “engaging and educating is precisely Abrams added. the Army’s field museums such as the what the National Museum is all about.” According to Dennis Mroczkowski, National Infantry Museum at Fort Ben- As the capstone of the Army mu- Chief of the Collections Branch, the ning, the Frontier Army Museum at Fort seum system, the National Museum Army has never constructed a building Leavenworth, or the Quartermaster Mu- holds the unique mission to tell the all- like this before, and rarely is anything seum at Fort Lee will continue to retain encompassing story of the Army and the similar seen within the civilian museum and maintain their own collections and contributions made to our nation by the profession. “The design of the MSC carry out their specific missions, what American Soldier. was spearheaded by Mr. Walter Brad- is known as the Army’s entire central “There is a bigger story to the Army ford, a museum curator who spent much collection of micro-artifacts will be than fighting battles,” Mroczkowski em- of the past 20 years advancing the de- consolidated at the MSC. “We have all phasized, “the Army made many impor- sign of the facility and how it should op- uniforms, equipment, and other micro- tant contributions on the civilian side, erate,” he said. artifacts that were worn by, used by, or too, that are frequently overlooked, and “Mr. Bradford started with a blank accompanied Soldiers of all eras. Many the National Museum will tell the story page,” Mroczkowski continued. “He laid of these are never-before-seen items that of the great things the Army, as a whole, out an operating system following a logi- already have been identified for future has done.” PAGE 2 Call To Duty VOLUME 5 ISSUE 4 DECEMBER 2010 Gasoline alley caRtoonist Raises awaReness of MuseuM In June 2010, Scancarelli’s Gasoline Alley story line fea- tured the Registry. (Courtesy of Tribune Media Services, Inc.) Jim Scancarelli is the writer-artist From Charlotte, North Carolina, individual Soldier’s role in ensuring the behind the popular syndicated comic Scancarelli says he is from a creative many freedoms enjoyed in the United strip, Gasoline Alley. In January 2010, family of artists, musicians, and enter- States. His father and uncles, all Italian Jim ran a seven-week series of panels tainers. He joined the Navy after high immigrants, had an overwhelming sense followed by a one-week series in June school to fulfill his military obligation. of pride in the freedoms and opportuni- 2010 in which Skeezix Wallet, the com- Scancarelli emerged from the Navy ties presented to them in the United States ic’s main character and an Army vet- with an enormous sense of patriotism that, according to Scancarelli, many peo- eran, promoted the National Museum of and a new take on a childhood memory ple take for granted. He learned through the United States Army and the Registry of his uncle going off to WW II. his father that “we’ve got it good and don’t of the American Soldier, respectively. “That day at the train station, every- even know it,” he said. The response was explosive – the Na- one was crying, hugging, and kissing. Scancarelli is proud to be in partnership tional Army Museum saw an incredible It was very emotional and painful,” he with such a patriotic effort as the Museum. spike in donations and Registry entries, reminisced. “It wasn’t until after my time “I believe that without a complete under- and a near 30 percent increase in web site in the Navy that I was mature enough to standing of history, future generations will traffic during the first week alone. look back and understand the sacrifice have nothing to go on. You have to under- “Immediately following the launch that service men and women make.” stand the past to be able to go forward into of the Museum-themed Gasoline Alley Today, he thanks every WW II vet- the future,” Scancarelli said.