Image by Articseahorse
History is not just about avoiding repeating mistakes of the past. To those who have served in the US military, history is also a source of pride, inspiration, and remembrance.
Recently the Department of Defense has been closing down more and more museums at military bases. Today, the local news reported that the Fort Sam Houston museum in San Antonio, TX will be closing down. Built in the mid-1870s, Fort Sam Houston is one of the oldest US military bases still operating as a defense outpost. Today it is known as the home of Army medicine but over the years it has served important roles in history from the frontier wars to both World Wars to a key node for Northern and Southern Commands that are still very active globally today. The local military museum being closed has preserved this history for decades.
Former Fort Sam Houston garrison commander COL (ret) Mary Garr commented, “This would be very unfortunate, to lose an important link to understanding our national, state, San Antonio, and military history, if it were to close. Thousands of veterans have stopped by over the years to visit as part of reunion tours, as well as coming on their own to reminisce."1
Many veterans can remember the significance of the unit patches they wore. Denigrating the importance of military unit histories and sacrifices can be considered disrespectful to many.
In June 2025, the Army announced it would close 20 of its base military museums. At the time, the Stars and Stripes reported:
“The U.S. Army Center of Military History announced plans Wednesday to close or consolidate 29 of its 41 active-duty museums to direct more resources toward “readiness and lethality,” a statement on the center’s Facebook page said.”2
Preserving history is important for not only veterans and their families but also for American citizens to understand the nation’s past. Near sighted politicians may not understand this, particularly the growing number that have never served in uniform. Museums are low cost but high return to preserve the rich history of the US military. Perhaps politicians should look elsewhere for cost cutting. In a bloated $1T defense budget, the cost of museums is miniscule but their impact to the servicemembers and the public can be huge. As fewer and fewer Americans are alive that have served in peace and war, keeping this legacy of service alive is vital.
I deployed and/or went to war with the 25th Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, 82nd Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, and 7th Special Forces Group. The esprit generated on each base by the unit, the base, and the historical lineage (often from the base museum) instilled a sense of pride that I think made me more ready and lethal. It is possible to have lethality and readiness without forgetting the history of the military and its sacrifices, successes, and failures. This is what museums do.
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/why-the-army-is-closing-its-museums-and-what-it-means-for-san-antonio-s-fort-sam-houston/ar-AA1LOpUE?ocid=BingNewsSerp
- https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2025-06-06/army-museum-closures-consolidations-18030136.html
I noticed years ago, the Marines have more esprit de corps than the Air Force because they remember their history and teach it to new recruits. (The USAF has less history, but some of it is very impressive and I haven't heard that it's being taught at all.)
Getting rid of museums is a blatant attack on our national identity.