National Infantry Museum, Soldier Center to honor US Infantry legacy.(Infantry News)

The new National Infantry Museum d Soldier Center at Patriot Park will honor the legacy of the United States Infantry on a 200-acre site that links Columbus, Ga., with Fort Benning, the Home of the Infantry. The National Infantry Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) private foundation, was created to act as the sponsoring organization for the project.

The museum's galleries will trace infantry history from colonial times to the present and will feature interactive and immersive exhibits to enhance the visitor's experience. It will be designed to attract and educate all segments of the population with interactive learning opportunities, high-tech classrooms, theaters, and dramatic venues for sacred ceremonies. An active education program will make the venue a must-see attraction for school groups and students of all ages. The foundation has an education coordinator on its staff to work with school groups and assist teachers in the preparation of lesson plans and field trips. The focus of the educational effort will be to teach history, as the history of the U.S. Army Infantry parallels the history of our country.

Additional instruction will focus on leadership skills and the Army Values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless-service, honor, integrity and personal courage. Research done by an internationally known museum planning firm estimates annual visitation at 480,000 to 520,000.

In addition to the 190,000-square-foot museum, there will be a five-acre parade field for infantry and basic training graduations and change of command ceremonies. A Walk of Honor flanked by gardens and memorials will ...