FORT LEE, Va. -- The Quartermaster School was established as a non-commissioned officer training center in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1910. In 1941 the school moved to Fort Lee with an expanded mission of training all Quartermaster Soldiers. On Dec. 7, the Quartermaster School celebrated its 75 anniversary here with a ceremony hosted at the Quartermaster Museum.
"Just think of the history. We have been training Quartermaster Soldiers for 75 years here at Fort Lee and Camp Lee, and they have been going out and doing great things for our Army," said Brig. Gen. Rodney Fogg, Quartermaster General and Quartermaster School commandant. "Fort Lee was, and still is, the centerpiece for Quartermaster training."
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the unveiling of a life-sized statue of Staff Sgt. Sidy Diallo, a logistics specialist who was previously stationed at Fort Lee. Diallo was one of five Soldiers sent to New York City to be cast for full-body molds that would become statues displayed throughout the museum. His statue represents all Quartermasters and is located at the entrance of the museum.
"Remembering those Soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, I think defines us as a nation," said Paul Morando, museum director. "As we celebrate 75 years here at Fort Lee, we are honoring all Soldiers who have been part of the school. What better way to do that than to unveil a statue that represents that."
"Never in my life did I ever think I would be back at Fort Lee," said retired Lt. Col. Lewis Martin, World War II-era Quartermaster Soldier who trained at Camp Lee. "I was born during World War I, do I have any comrades here? I don't see any hands," he said during his comments that received laughter from the audience.
He continued to regale the crowd with a few stories from his time here.
"I got valuable training, which I will never forget, here at Fort Lee," Martin said. "I was taught by two of the bravest, meanest, non-commissioned officers that Camp Lee had and that left an impression."
The final tribute to the occasion was a traditional cake cutting by Fogg, Martin, Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Sellers, Quartermaster School command sergeant major, and retired Col. Porcher Taylor, also a World War II veteran.
In July, the Quartermaster School and museum will help Fort Lee celebrate its 100th anniversary.
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