FORT BLISS, Texas - Fort Bliss has been home to many of the military's weapon systems and combat units where multiple weapons have been tested and developed during training conducted in the installations large desert maneuver area.
To assist in the preservation and restoration of historical artifacts, units can adopt artifacts that service members operated, or that have significant historical lineage through the Adopt-an-Artifact program.
"With 1st Armored Division here, we are now prepared to reposition units based on recent force structure decisions and identify which artifacts can be adopted and preserved," said Fort Bliss Garrison Commander Col. Brant V. Dayley.
After the commemoration of Operation Torch, Maj. Gen. Sean MacFarland, 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss commanding general, initiated the Adopt-an-Artifact program.
During inventory, large-sized military equipment, know as macro artifacts, such as tanks, armored vehicles and aircrafts, which are difficult to display indoors at a museum have been identified. The U.S. Army Center of Military History must authorize artifacts belonging to the Army Historical Collection to transfer from one collection site, museum or agency under Army control to another agency.
Artifacts requested from CMH include historic combat vehicles, surveillance and reconnaissance vehicles, command cars, towed howitzers and an anti-aircraft gun. The first goal is to preserve all artifacts in Fort Bliss' possession.
Dayley viewed artifacts assigned to the Fort Bliss museums to see firsthand what local equipment and vehicles are available for transfer within the installation.
Garrison command is working with the Fort Bliss museums director to develop an agreement for units to adopt artifacts. "Once they are restored, we will assist in positioning the vehicles or pieces in the appropriate unit location, and ensure both the accountability and sustainment of these items for decades to come," Dayley said. "It takes a lot of work, coordinating with external organizations and effecting property transfers."
Entrusted units can take responsibility of historical artifacts that are associated with their regimental and branch lineage. Like any government property, taking possession requires an obligation to provide supervision, proper custody and safekeeping by the command.
One of the purposes for this initiative mentioned by Dayley is to reinforce the importance of history and learn from it. It develops more interest by Soldiers and builds espirit de corps among units that dedicate the time to preserve these vehicles and display them in their unit areas.
"History is my passion. I am decisively engaged in preserving old Fort Bliss history and our living history program," Dayley said.
Gen. George S. Patton once wrote in a letter for his son, "To be a successful Soldier, you must know history."
"Preserving our past gives us the opportunity to learn from what we and others have done before us," Dayley said. "If we don't study history, we may unfortunately make many of the same mistakes our forefathers made."
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