National Infantry Foundation unveils soldiers' sculptures

Entrance road to the museum, December, 2008. (Dave Bender)

The National Infantry Foundation on Thursday unveiled a sample of 50 life size sculptures of military personnel that will be included in the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center at Fort Benning, near Columbus, Ga.

Thirty-eight of the sculptures are of infantry troops, and the remaining 12 represent other historic figures.

The sculptures are modeled after live U.S. Army soldiers who each had to go through a three-hour-long casting process, according to a statement.

The museum is scheduled to open in March, 2009.

A crane hoists a Bradley Fighting Vehicle into place at the museum, June, 2007. Due to its size and weight, the vehicle was installed early on, in order to fit into the facility before the walls went up. (Dave Bender)

(PRNewswire)

Click here for more about the National Infantry Museum.

Ft. Benning hospital b'day present: $350 M

Martin Army Community Hospital, Fort Benning. (Courtesy) President George Bush on Monday granted $350 million dollars for a new army hospital in southwest Georgia, as the facility it will replace commemorates its 50th anniversary. The funds for Martin Army Hospital at Fort Benning are part of an emergency Iraq War funding bill. Hospital Director Colonel Harry Warren says the center plans to open a traumatic brain injury clinic for wounded soldiers:

"In fact, we already have funding before the new hospital for an outpatient clinic along these lines, actually, next month."

Army officials say repairs are being made to the present facility, which is beset with rusty plumbing, an underpowered electrical system and a leaky roof. The hospital serves the region, and will continue functioning until the new, 500,000 million dollar facility is built over the next four-to-five years.

Rep. Sanford Bishop, 2nd Cong. Dist. (in suit), Maj. Gen. Walter Wojdakowski, and Martin Army Community Hospital officials wield ceremonial swords to cut a 50th birthday cake. (Dave Bender)

An influx of some 30,000 troops, families and dependents is expected when the Army's Armor School at Fort Knox moves down to Fort Benning as a part of the Base Realignment and Closure program (BRAC).

Click here for more GPB News coverage of events at Fort Benning, and here for more on the BRAC plan.