‘Army history is American history’: Army Heritage Center exhibit celebrates 250 years of the U.S. Army

The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle offered an advance look Thursday at its newest exhibition, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Year of Army History.”

A toilet paper roll holder from the residence of P. Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Germany’s Minister of Propaganda, is part of the exhibit. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

Honoring the Army’s 250th anniversary on June 14, 2025, the displays are part of the publicly accessible exhibit galleries at the center.

A 1977 commemorative Rose Bowl game ball and an autographed Elvis photo, both presented to General of the Army Omar Bradley, are part of the exhibit. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

The exhibition is drawn from the massive collection of USAHEC. All of the artifacts, books and archival materials are chosen by the staff and leaders of the USAHEC, U.S. Army War College and Carlisle Barracks.

A 75mm M20 recoilless rifle with tripod mount is part of the exhibit. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

“USAHEC is the premier archive for the United States Army. We’re an unparalleled collection of documents, of books, of memoirs, of diaries, of artifacts–I like to think of it as art objects. We have over five miles of linear feet of people’s archives. General officers….many of the general officers from the past, over 200, have donated their personal archives,” said Kate Lemay, director of USAHEC.

The bomb receipt for the atomic bomb “Little Boy” that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, Aug. 6, 1945 is part of the exhibit. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

The artifacts range from a recoilless rifle to an M16, to an autographed photo of Elvis Presley given to General of the Army Omar Bradley.

A Civil War-era presentation-grade sword and scabbard are part of the exhibit. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

Some of the more surprising and impactful artifacts include a D-Day landing day map that was the personal map of Lt. Gen. Omar Bradley. This map bears cigarette burns from British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.

The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

Easy to overlook is one of the smaller artifacts – a toilet paper roll holder that is part of the exhibit. The historical weight of it becomes apparent when reading the accompanying identification card. This simple object is from the residence of P. Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Germany’s Minister of Propaganda. The item was collected as a momento by Col. John Knauer, 23rd General Hospital.

A D-Day landing map, Lt. Gen. Omar Bradley’s personal map of Utah Beach, Normandy, France, June, 1944 is part of the exhibit. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

Another artifact is tied to the atomic bomb. This paper receipt is part of a weapon that helped end World War II and also forever altered the course of human history. The bomb receipt for the “Little Boy” atomic bomb bears creases, tattered edges and redactions in the form of words cut out of the receipt.

A World War II German 80mm mortar shell is part of the exhibit. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

The receipt was carried in the personal possession of Brig. Gen. Thomas Farrell, Deputy Commander of the Manhattan Project, and Joint Chief of Tinian Island. He kept it in his wallet from the day the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on Aug. 6, 1945, until his death in 1967. Only declassified in April, 2012, this item was chosen by Melissa Wilford, USAHEC archivist, in the classified holding collections division.

A World War II Voices of Victory record is part of the exhibit. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

“…it’s a lot to take in, and what I love about this exhibition, is that it has a personal approach through the celebratory insight of the staff. And, the staff will select things that are hard, they’ll select things that are painful, but they will also select things that mean something to themselves because many of our staff members are veterans and they understand what it was like to serve,” added Lemay.

The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

The exhibit grand opening will be 10 a.m. Sat. June 14, immediately following a cake cutting ceremony at the USAHEC pavilion. Other activities include a 9 a.m. 5k run that starts in front of the center.

The bomb receipt for the atomic bomb “Little Boy” that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, Aug. 6, 1945 is part of the exhibit. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

A military parade commemorating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary is being held Saturday in the nation’s Capitol, complete with 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks and Paladin self-propelled howitzers rolling through the city streets.

Items chosen the U.S. Army War College Command Group are part of the exhibit. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

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An M16A2 rifle with 30-round magazine is part of the exhibit. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]

A tavern, circa 1770s, has been reproduced for the exhibit. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has a new public exhibit, “This We’ll Defend: Celebrating 250 Years of Army History.” June 12, 2025. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]