The National Infantry Museum wins sixth USA Today’s Reader’s Choice Award

Michelle Jennings
·2 min read

COLUMBUS, Ga (WRBL) — A celebration was held Friday morning at the National Infantry Museum as the facility received its sixth USA Reader’s Choice award for being the Best Free Museum.

The ceremony was held in the museum’s foyer where soldiers, Columbus citizens, and museum volunteers waited for the flag unveiling.

Mayor Skip Henderson opened his speech saying, “This is without a doubt one of the greatest privileges that I’ve been afforded since I’ve been in the mayor’s office.”

The ceremony allowed for Frank Lumpkin, the fourth to be commissioned in the U.S. Army Reserve as a lawyer. Lumpkin was administered an oath by the current President of the National Infantry Foundation- Retired Birigard General Pete Jones.

Immediately after the commissioning of Lumpkin, Presiden Jones stated, “ This Army will allow you to do multiple things, you’ll get your GI Bill, you can go green and gold, you can go C.S. The person that determines your future is you, so learn about your options. Give your best. I wish you could always do 110 percent, but do that and then some. And the world is your oyster as you join this profession. “

As the sound of the Army men rang out, the feeling of pride for the Infantry Museum and the soldiers could not go without noticing.

The overwhelming sensation of pride was so noticeable that during an interview with Mayor Henderson, he stated, “ I am proud not only of the people who work, not only at the museum, which they are awesome. The volunteers, the board, and the foundation. I am just proud of this city and our neighbors at Fort Moore. We support our soldiers, We love our soldiers. We pray for them every day. So to be able to see another banner go up into the roof and know what it represents and that’s the sacrifice made by our American soldiers. It’s an incredible feeling.”

The ceremony consisted of the cutting of a cake. This was done by Mayor Skip Henderson, Brigadier General Retired Pete Jones, Colonel Jimmy Hathaway – the longest serving infantryman and Private Robinson- the youngest soldier.

Cupcakes were served to attendees of the ceremony to celebrate the legacy of the only interactive army museum in the United States winning such an honorary award.

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