| For more than eighty years Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, Cumberland
County and North Carolina have lived and worked in cooperation
with one another. The Airborne & Special Operations Museum
now stands as a symbol for many years of teamwork, sacrifice,
and victory.
Mission Statement
The Airborne & Special Operations
Museum will provide a unique educational experience on United States
history and basic core values through the preservation interpretation
and recognition of U.S. Army airborne and special operations history,
equipment, technology, legend, art and weaponry.
Sharing the Organization
The Airborne & Special Operations Museum is part of the U.S. Army Museum
System and functions in partnership with a non-profit foundation. The Foundation
Board of Directors is composed of retired military, veteran military and civilian
members from both the public and private sectors.
The Foundation staff is made up of Executive
Director Paul Galloway and his staff of six primary staff and six part time employees.
The Army staff consists of Museum Director James Huggins and
his staff of four. The responsibilities of operating the museum facility and its programming
are shared between everyone.
Sharing the Funding
Both public and private funding has been vital to the opening of the $22.5
million museum. Fundraising by the Foundation began in 1992 with a generous
grant awarded from Congress. In addition to the federal grant, the State
of North Carolina, Cumberland County, and the City of Fayetteville have provided
grants to the museum.
Contributions by private individuals and businesses allowed the
museum to become a reality, and continue to provide the funds required
to operate and improve the museum, and to offer educational programming.
Veterans’ and military associations’ donations come
not only from their pockets, but also from their hearts and closets
in the form of rare, valuable and very personal artifacts. Our
thanks are always with the thousands who have given their time,
money and artifacts.
Sharing the Benefits
Both the military and civilian communities are served by the Airborne & Special
Operations Museum. The military community has a beautiful museum facility;
the only one dedicated to all Army airborne and special operations units. It
provides a place for educational programming and research as well as special
functions. It helps airborne and special operations soldiers share their unique
world with relatives and friends.
Area residents have a wonderful museum that focuses on a subject
that has been a part of their lives for decades. Schools have a
venue for teaching WWII history, North Carolina history and values
education. Visitors from all parts of the country, from all walks
of life, are able to experience the legend of the airborne and
special operations.
Local and state governments realize that the impressive facility
brings additional long-term economic benefits to the area. The project
serves as an important part in Fayetteville's continuing downtown
revitalization.
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