Two new memorials planned for Corridor of Valor and Sacrifice at the National Infantry Museum
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) –– The newly resurfaced replica Vietnam Wall at the National Infantry Museum fits into a much larger outdoor expansion at the South Columbus military museum.
The museum has a signature exhibit showcasing the last one hundred yards. It depicts legendary battles in the Infantry’s history.
Before this year is over, there will be a signature memorial walk that will graphically illustrate the cost of those last hundred yards.
The National Infantry Museum is going to call its walkway from the parking lot to the parade field the Corridor of Valor and Sacrifice.
Parts of it have been in place for several years – including the Global War on Terrorism Memorial and the replica Vietnam Wall.
Other pieces are scheduled to be in place before the end of the year. One is a Korean War Memorial and the other is a Gold Star and Surviving Family Memorial.
The additions, as well as the resurfacing of the replica Vietnam Wall are funded in large part from a $2.8 million dollar grant from the State of Georgia. The replica Vietnam Wall panels were replaced with Georgia granite in which the names of the more than 58,000 causalities were etched.
“What we plan on doing here at the National Infantry Museum is expanding our corridor of valor and sacrifice,” said National Infantry Museum Foundation President and CEO Pete Jones. “Not only do we have the Vietnam War on one side, the global war on terror on the other, but we’re going to include here shortly a memorial to those that have served and what really has been one of our longest conflicts, the Korean War. And then to cap it all off. We’re also going to include a Gold Star family memorial. That tells the story of Gold Star families that really are the ones that have to bear the burden of their lost loved ones in combat.”
One of the neat things about the Korean War Memorial is one of those depicted with retired Col. Ralph Puckett. Col. Puckett lives in Columbus and received the Medal of Honor for his battlefield actions in Korea.
Jones said state lawmakers such as late Rep. Richard Smith, Sen. Randy Robertson and Sen. Ed Harbison helped push for the funding, which was included in last year’s budget.
He also said that Gov. Brian Kemp saw the museum’s vision to honor the fallen and their loved ones.
“But when we laid this out to the governor’s office and our legislators, you know, it wasn’t just let’s turn the Vietnam traveling wall into something that’s a permanent structure and expand the storyline,” Jones said. “It was let’s tell the story of the forgotten war veterans of the Korean War, while at the same time also sort of cap it off and tell the story of our Gold Star families. And where does that come from and how does that reside in our history?”
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
