20 MAR 09: When Johnny Came Marching Out
After years of preparation and millions of dollars in donations, the first phase of the new National Infantry Museum was opened Thursday. It was a true reminder of the U.S. Army in 2009 -- with a lot of history, but at the same time an emphasis on making money.
The big ceremony of the day was the first graduation of new soldiers on the National Infantry Museum's new parade grounds. It's a lovely open green space with a viewing stand - yet something seemed missing. When are they installing the goal posts, so Spencer High School can play home football games?
The first graduation ceremony included a "sacred soil" ceremony, where dirt from eight key military battles in U.S. history was spread across the grounds. Let's all hope no peace activist responds to this by spreading Agent Orange from Vietnam.
Descendants of famous military men were invited to the ceremony as well. WRBL noted the great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt was involved. So what about relatives of Franklin D. Roosevelt? Did they somehow think the new museum would be on Warm Springs Road?
To watch the evening newscasts, the view from the far end of the parade grounds looked a little familiar. The National Infantry Museum in the background looks a bit like the Columbus Public Library. But since the museum cost $100 million and the library cost $49 million, the museum can afford grass in the back instead of asphalt.
The new museum also allows people to stroll a mock Fort Benning street from the 1940s. And unlike similar displays in other cities, you don't have to worry about mouse and duck characters starting a parade every evening.
As for the moneymaking, the museum's on-site restaurant had its grand opening at 5:00 p.m. Thursday. The National Infantry Foundation is promising "fine dining" there - so I wouldn't expect the Fife and Drum to cost merely a five or dime.
The evening news showed some of the first diners at the Fife and Drum. They included Fort Benning deputy commanding general Milo Miles, as well as Cissy Doll. If the Army ever starts using Nissan tanks, you'll know our country is in deep trouble....
The Soldier Store also opened Thursday afternoon - offering things such as boutique-size bags of "Infantry cookies." Aw, c'mon! A real souvenir from this museum would be a "meal ready to eat" autographed by retired General Hal Moore.
The first movie to be shown at Thursday's grand opening of the museum IMAX theater was "Mysteries of Egypt." Huh?! They couldn't find a film that's all-American and patriotic - like M*A*S*H?
But Thursday's big ceremony actually was the first of two. The National Infantry Museum itself won't open until June. Its artifacts reportedly still are stored in a basement - and I hope it has nothing to do with that self-storage business on Victory Drive going on Fort Benning's "off-limits" list.
An online search for the National Infantry Museum reminded me the original plan called for a grand opening last October. Now it appears the big event will be eight months late. This is one situation when most people should NOT "follow them...."
-> How did our Thursday night poker tournament go? You would have to ask, wouldn't you? Find out at our other blog, "On the Flop!" <--
BLOG UPDATE: The Thursday TV news offered more about our exclusive story on an investigation of withholding taxes. It showed the November letter from the Georgia Revenue Commissioner to Mayor Jim Wetherington -- and it had a "Mayor's Office" stamp on it. So he may have known about the request for names. But if he keeps those details at his office computer, he has more power than we realized.
City Finance Director Pam Hodge said it's the responsibility of city employees to fill out G-4 withholding forms properly. But the Georgia Revenue Commissioner said city officials need to make sure employees do that. Oh dear - another item for the city auditor's growing "to-do" list....
Charles Willey from the Georgia Department of Revenue called us back Thursday, with more details on the withholding tax investigation. He said four counties, one city and one consolidated government have yet to provide names. That consolidated government is NOT Columbus, but Augusta. Quit planting flowers for The Masters, and cooperate.
Unfinished investigation top our other news, from the official final day of winter:
+ Aayesha Owens Reese learned she's no longer under investigation in DeKalb County for "double dipping" -- taking a salary there, while working with the Muscogee County Junior Marshal program. That's reassuring to hear, if only because Junior Marshal probably are restricted to single-dip ice cream cones.
+ Shatoya Wright resigned from the Columbus Police Department - the woman accused of assisting in a bank robbery before joining the force. At least she served with police officers long enough to learn who the most annoying defense attorneys are.
+ The Ledger-Enquirer reported District Attorney Julia Slater has asked the Georgia Attorney General to appoint special prosecutors in 87 different cases. After about 25, that prosecutor won't seem so "special" anymore....
+ St. Francis Hospital showed off a new procedure in gall bladder surgery. An operation now is possible by making a single incision in a patient's body. So we've moved from Ken Nugent with "one call, that's all" to St. Francis with "one cut in your gut."
+ Inessa Levi was named the new provost at Columbus State University. Her background is in mathematics - so maybe she'll be able to explain how C.S.U. was able to cut half-a-job last week.
+ Meanwhile, Columbus State's Honors Program held its annual "pie toss" - and President Timothy Mescon took one in the face. That's the way to live up to the "mess" part of your name....
+ The Columbus Cottonmouths twisted Twin City 5-2, to remain in second place with two games left in the regular season. The only fight of the game occurred with seven seconds to go - else the fans expecting "March Madness" would have gone home with nothing at all.
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