The National Infantry Museum Unveils Body Sculptures

/PRNewswire/ -- Today, the National Infantry Foundation will unveil a sample of its 50 life size sculptures at Brooklyn's StudioEIS, who for more than 30 years has been creating figures for museums around the world. These life-like figures will soon be placed in the new National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center, scheduled to open March 20, 2009 in Columbus, Georgia.

Each of the museum's 50 life size sculptures is modeled after U.S. Army Soldiers who each had to go through a three-hour-long casting process. "The casting experience was awesome," said Capt. Matthew Makaryk. "The crew that did it was absolutely outstanding."

After the casts are removed, the pieces are assembled, sculpted, and painted. The figures are then dressed in costumes, which are impregnated with foam, given weapons, and treated with a resin coating. Thirty-eight of the body sculptures appear as Infantrymen, while 12 of the sculptures, which are dressed in original, artifact costumes, represent other historic figures. "As a former history teacher and now as an Infantryman I am impressed with the great lengths the foundation is going to portray accurate historical details," said Capt. Robert Peterson.

The 200-acre National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center site includes a parade field, a memorial walk of honor, and an authentic World War II Company Street. Inside the museum are galleries chock full of engaging exhibits with themes highlighting Infantry experiences in military training, Medal of Honor recipients, the OCS training experience, the contributions of Rangers and more. In addition, the museum's 300-seat IMAX Theater will bring giant screen movies to the Columbus, GA region for the first time.

Opening in March 2009, the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center at Patriot Park, a 200-acre tract linking Columbus, Georgia, and Fort Benning, the Home of the Infantry, is the first world-class site to pay tribute to the U.S. Army Infantryman and those who fight alongside him. As the only interactive Army Museum in the U.S., the museum showcases the contributions of the Infantry Soldier in every war fought by the U.S. by offering immersive participation and engaging visitors in the unique experiences of the Infantry Soldier. The complex also includes the parade field, memorial walk of honor, authentic World War II Company Street and 3-D IMAX Theatre. For more information, visit http://www.nationalinfantrymuseum.com/.

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