Boeing to Donate $5 Million to New US Army Museum
ST. LOUIS, June 14, 2010 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that it will donate $5 million to the National Museum of the United States Army to help chronicle and commemorate the Army's distinguished history, from the Revolutionary War to present-day operations. The museum is scheduled to open at Fort Belvoir, Va., in 2015.
"This generous gift to the museum is yet another demonstration of Boeing's deep respect for today's Army men and women, and a tribute to every Army soldier who has served," said retired Maj. Gen. John P. Herrling, executive director, Capitol Campaign for the National Museum of the United States Army. "Boeing is leading the corporate charge to ensure Army history is preserved and soldiers' service and sacrifice are properly honored."
Boeing is the museum's first "Commander-in-Chief Circle of Distinction" sponsor, a designation reserved for those who contribute $5 million or more. Boeing has contributed $1 million to date and will donate an additional $1 million annually through 2014.
"Boeing salutes the 14 generations of soldiers whose selfless service and personal sacrifice have forged and safeguarded this nation for 235 years," said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO, Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "We're proud to honor these men and women by recounting their accomplishments in what promises to be a beautiful facility."
Recognizing that soldiers' personal stories are essential to explaining the Army's diverse history, Boeing will sponsor the museum's central exhibit, called the "Soldiers' Stories Gallery." The gallery will house several freestanding pylons organized in marching formation, each one telling an individual soldier's story. In addition to the gallery, the 175,000-square-foot museum also will feature 750,000 historical artifacts, documents and images collected and preserved over the past two centuries. The 41-acre campus will include a park with a memorial garden and parade grounds, where the museum will accommodate ceremonies, reenactments, lectures and educational programs.
"Boeing has a long history of supporting the warfighter through world-class technologies and capabilities that protect and connect soldiers in the field," said retired Brig. Gen. Leo A. Brooks Jr., vice president of Boeing's National Security & Space Group. "It's just as important to memorialize the courageous acts of our men and women in uniform and to learn from their history, which is why we're playing a meaningful role in the creation of the museum."
Source: BOEING
