New Member Series: Exploring artifacts from across America

Welcome to Army ArtiFACTS, The Army Historical Foundation’s latest Army history programming delivered to our supporters and members exclusively through this timed, early access landing page. Enjoy this new member series that explores artifacts from across America. Your AHF Membership gives you access before the general public, along with a unique opportunity to provide personal input to impact future programming themes. 

Army ArtiFACTS provides a series of pre-recorded programs released monthly in advance to our valued members, as an added benefit of membership. Each program in the series focuses on an Army related artifact that can be found in a military history or peer museum. Every episode features a topical industry expert as a program guest. Latest episodes are below, and we look forward to your feedback!

Latest Episodes:

Episode #14: Army and Veteran Stories from Pohick Church

This episode of Army Artifacts features Caden Ritchie, Army Historical Foundation intern, and Sandra Caesar, Cemetery Warden for The Pohick Episcopal Church Cemetery in Lorton, Virginia.

Caden and Ms. Caesar discuss the historic beginnings of the church as well as some of its more notable attendees including George Mason, William Fairfax, and George Washington. In addition to the church’s early American and Revolutionary War stories, they also discuss the church’s Civil War history. In fact, many of the Soldiers’ left their mark, or graffiti, on the outside of the church that can still be seen today.

The episode concludes with Caden telling the stories of some of the Army Veterans buried in the cemetery including George Cyr, Robert Cockroft, and David Belcher.

EPISODE #1: National Vietnam War Museum - "Army One"

The Army Historical Foundation interviews the Communications Director for The National Vietnam War Museum, scheduled to open in June 2022. Mr. Edward T. Luttenberger talks about the CH-34 helicopter in their collections that was part of the Eisenhower and Kennedy presidential fleet when it’s call sign was “Army One.”

EPISODE #2: American Civil War Museum - "William Henry Parker"

The Army Historical Foundation interviews Robert F. Hancock, Senior Curator and Director of Collections at the American Civil War Museum. Learn about a Union wool coat in the Museum’s collection and how studying the story of the individual Soldier, not just generals, politicians, and great battles, is important in Army and U.S. History.

Episode #3: National D-Day Memorial "The Bedford Boys"

The Army Historical Foundation interviews and tours with the National D-Day Memorial to learn about its statues and memorials dedicated to the memory of the Bedford Boys. Watch and listen to the Memorials Director of Education, John D. Long, as he recounts the beginnings and lives of the community of Bedford, Virginia and how it was affected following the D-Day Invasion of Normandy.

Episode #4: National World War I Museum and Memorial "U.S. Army Nurse Corps Baseball Uniform"

The Army Historical Foundation interviews Doran Cart, Senior Curator at the National World War I Museum and Memorial about two recently acquired collection items – women’s baseball pullover shirts! Learn about the importance of having American baseball during the American Occupation of Germany in 1919-1920 and what these shirts can tell us about women in Army and United States history.

Episode #5: Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center "Charles M. Schulz"

In this episode, The Army Historical Foundation speaks with Benjamin L. Clark, Curator for the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center about Charles Schulz’s early life and Army experience that influenced the rest of his life.

Episode #6: Williamsport, Pennsylvania

In addition to being home of the Little League World Series, Williamsport, Pennsylvania is home to a lot of Army history including multiple 18th century forts, a cemetery dedicated to African American Civil War Soldiers, and a story about Oscar Charleston who was both a professional baseball player and an Army Veteran.

Episode #7: Davy Crockett Weapon System

On this episode of Army Artifacts, Matt Seelinger, The Army Historical Foundation’s Chief Historian, discusses the Davy Crockett Tactical Nuclear Recoilless Smoothbore Gun. The episode features images and information provided by The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History in Albuquerque, New Mexico which can also be found on their website at https://www.nuclearmuseum.org/see/exhibits

Episode #8: Pearl Harbor Heroes

On this episode of Army Artifacts, learn about Army pilots Kenneth Taylor and George Welch who, while still wearing their tuxedos from the night before, jumped into their P-40s to face enemy aircraft on December 7th, 1941.

Episode #9: Women in History

During Memorial Day Weekend 2022, The Army Historical Foundation screened the documentary “Sunken Roads: Three Generations After D-Day” and hosted Q&A sessions with the filmmaker, Charlotte Juergens. 

In this video, the Foundation interviews Charlotte about her experience creating the documentary, her interest in history, and her future projects.

You can learn more about Charlotte and “Sunken Roads” on her website: https://www.charlottejuergens.com/

Episode #10: Ball Mason Jars and World War II

On this episode of Army Artifacts, The Army Historical Foundation hosts Nalleli Guillen from Minnetrista Museum & Gardens in Muncie, Indiana to learn about a small pin belonging to Edmund F. Ball when he served in the Army during World War II.

Together, Kathleen and Nalleli discuss the Ball family, World War II, Muncie, Indiana, and Bob Ross.

Episode #11: The Great Locomotive Chase

The Army Historical Foundation talks with The Southern Museum in Kennesaw, Georgia about The Great Locomotive Chase of 1862 in which a group of Union Soldiers stole a train, named The General, to disrupt the Western & Atlantic Railroad and the Confederate supply chain. Listen to The Southern Museum’s Josh Trower as he describes what he refers to as “one of the first special forces missions” resulting in the very first Medals of Honor.

Episode #12: Honoring Veterans

This episode of Army Artifacts focuses on Veterans and how we honor them today with guests representing two Honor Flight Hubs: Honor Flight San Antonio and South Willamette Valley Honor Flight.

The Honor Flight Network was established in 2005 with the mission to transport American Veterans to Washington D.C. to see the monuments and memorials built in their honor and to celebrate the Veterans for their service and sacrifice as many of them never were when they returned home. The Honor Flight Network transports 22,000 Veterans Annually through the work of 124 Honor Flight Hubs around the country. 

Episode #13: Chief Pushmataha

On this episode of Army Artifacts, The Army Historical Foundation goes to Capitol Hill to visit the Congressional Cemetery. Join The Foundation as we speak with the Cemetery’s Director of Public Engagement, A.J. Orlikoff, to learn the history of the cemetery and how Chief Pushmataha of the Choctaw Nation came to be buried in Washington D.C.

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