Since opening our doors fifteen years ago, The National Infantry Museum Foundation has made great strides in fulfilling its mission to honor the Infantry Soldier. Every day, the staff and volunteers connect with our patrons and embody this purpose. In 2015, the Foundation established our vision statement: to be recognized as the Nation’s premier military museum honoring American Soldiers past, present, and future. Ten years later, the National Infantry Museum is embarking upon a capital campaign to uphold our standard in honoring our heroes and the timing is essential to prepare for an historic year. In 2025, the museum will observe a year of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the Infantry. Securing the future of the museum is crucial to the history contained within our walls and the memorials enriching our campus; especially significant for a banner year of new activity.

Upon entering the Last 100 Yards of the National Infantry Museum, the rhythm of a marching battalion resounded in your heart. The iconic seven vignettes of major American battles were designed to be completely immersive; the sights and sounds were so all-encompassing it was not uncommon to see visitors with tears in their eyes, lost in the moment.

Throughout the museum and in each of the downstairs galleries, the audio-visual system kept visitors engaged and focused on the artifacts before them. Now, fifteen years since we celebrated our opening, the audio-visual system has not been able to keep up its impactful content.

The original system is failing and has become obsolete in many areas. The Last 100 Yards has fallen silent. Still impactful, but it does not carry the full gravitas it once did. Videos, screens, and sounds have dropped off with no ability to replace them. It is an urgent need for the National Infantry Museum to fund a permanent and comprehensive solution to the failing system.