National Infantry Museum to open in Georgia - Off Duty, travel - Navy Times

National Infantry Museum to open in Georgia

The infantry is an often-overlooked but integral component of a wartime victory. Now, those who fight on the front lines are being honored with their own museum, slated to open in part March 19 in Columbus, Ga. The museum will open in full later in the spring; log on to its Web site for details.

The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center at Patriot Park will be a 190,000-square-foot tribute to the infantryman, tracing his roots through every war fought by Americans. Among the 30,000 artifacts to be displayed in the facility are Hermann Goering’s field marshal baton and a Civil War battle drum.

The museum will honor the valor and sacrifice made by infantrymen, who represent 80 percent of those who die in battle in the U.S. armed forces, museum officials contend, adding that more than half of all Medals of Honor are awarded to infantrymen.

Among the features of the museum are an IMAX theater, a parade ground, a walk of honor and authentic World War II buildings, including one used by Army Gen. George S. Patton.

The museum is near Fort Benning and the Army Infantry School, the “Home of the Infantry.”

For details and a 10-minute video describing the planned museum, visit www.nationalinfantrymuseum.com.