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News Releases |
Governor Tours New Museum Site
Columbus, Georgia – April 19, 2005: Georgia
Governor Sonny Perdue dodged earth movers and rock piles to survey
the site of the new National Infantry Museum and Heritage Park during
a recent visit to Fort Benning and Columbus.
"This is the right place to honor these soldiers,
and it's the right time to do it," Gov. Perdue said, as he
walked among the buildings of World War II Company Street.
"Preserving these buildings represents a significant
contribution to our nation's history -- and there is no place more
fitting than Ft. Benning, the home of America's Infantry."
Just before the tour, the Governor met with BG (P) Ben Freakley
and MG (R) Jerry White, Chairman of the National Infantry Foundation,
in Infantry Hall's Bayonet Room to view a video about the project
and learn more about the plans.
"The Governor was very impressed with the
overall plan for the National Infantry Museum project and the progress
we have made to date," said MG White. "He was keenly interested
in our efforts to honor Soldiers and preserve the legacy of the
Infantry."
"Infantrymen deserve this museum, and the
museum is worthy of the support of the community and of the state,"
Gov. Perdue told reporters.
The National Infantry Foundation has raised about
$40 million, and is more than halfway toward its fund raising goal.
The Governor told reporters it's a project worthy of widespread
support.
Project leaders showed the Governor the 1940s-era
buildings that are being restored to recreate a typical World War
II Company Street. The Governor joined MG White and BG Freakley
inside the old Harmony Church chapel, which survived its 8-mile
move across post without a scratch. After it's restored, the chapel
will once again be used for services, weddings and baptisms.
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