Stealth Fighter - The F-117 Nighthawk is the world's first aircraft designed to exploit advanced stealth technology. The unique design of the F-117 provides exceptional combat capabilities. Virtually undetectable by radar due to its technology. Used for the first time in Operation Desert Storm. Known as the "silent menace" of the sky.

Gettysburg Address - The short speech that Lincoln delivered at the site of battle of Gettysburg, PA on Nov. 19, 1863. Part of the battlefield was dedicated as a cemetery for those who had lost their lives in the battle. There are 5 different versions of the speech. Historians believe his inspired words helped reshape the nation by defining it as one people; everyone is created equal.

USS Constitution - One of six frigates that made up the Navy in 1774. Due to the unusually strong hull made of live oak, cannon balls would bounce off her hull, thus the nickname, "Old Ironsides". Her crew of 450 won important, decisive victories during the War of 1812. It was restored in 1997 at the Boston Navy Yard.

Blue Angels - Since 1946 the Blue Angels have been goodwill ambassadors for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps; representing the best in naval aviation and aerobatic maneuvers. They fly the F-18 Hornet, primarily a fighter escort for fleet air defense. Used extensively in Operation Desert Storm.

F-16 - United States Air Force Thunderbird team. They represent the best in Air Force, aviation and aerobatic maneuvers. The Falcon is over 20 years old and is one of the best fighters in its class. It is fast, inexpensive, has electronic flight controls and other high-tech wizardry. Its radar, missiles and cannon make it a genuine Top Gun. The Thunderbirds were officially activated June 1, 1953.

B-17 Bomber - Two of the most famous bombers in WW II were the B-17 Fortress and the B-29 Super Fortress. Both carried several tons of bombs, and had turrets with machine guns. They were primarily used for daytime bombing raids over Germany and Japan. (B-25's were used in the famous Jimmy Doolittle raid over Tokyo in 1942.)

Arizona Memorial - The final resting-place for 1177 U.S. crewman who lost their lives on Dec. 7, 1941. As a special tribute to the ship and her lost crew, the U.S. flag flies from the pole that is attached to the severed main mast of the sunken battleship. The memorial has come to commemorate all military personnel killed in the Pearl Harbor attack.

Marine Corp War Memorial, (Arlington, VA). - Based on one of the most-publicized photos of WWII, taken Feb. 19, 1945. The Memorial consists of a statue of five marines and a Navy Corpsman raising a flag on the island of Iwo Jima. It honors all marines that have died in action since 1775. Semper Fidelis.

USS Missouri "Mighty Mo" - This Iowa-class battleship is one of 4 sister battleships, including the USS Iowa, USS New Jersey, and the USS Wisconsin, all of which took part in either WWII (1939-1945), the Korean Conflict (1950-1953), or Vietnam 19-19). They were each armed with nine 16-inch guns that could fire 2700 lb. shells a distance of 23 miles, and more than 100 anti-aircraft guns. Their armor plating was 18 inches thick. The Missouri was the site of the 23-minute surrender ceremony when Japan surrendered to Admiral Chester Nimitz at 0902 on Sept. 2, 1945. The Missouri and Wisconsin were re-commissioned and re-fitted for cruise missile firing in the Gulf War.

Apache Helicopter - Twin-engine Army attack helicopter developed and built by McDonnell Douglass (now Boeing). First used in combat in Panama in 1989. Used successfully in the Gulf War. Designed to survive heavy attack and inflict massive damage. In essence is a flying tank.

Chief Crazyhorse Memorial, (Custer, SD) - A memorial to the Oglala Sioux chief who was victorious at Powder River and Rosebud River against Army troops, and who joined with Sitting Bull and Gall to defeat George Armstrong Custer at Little Big Horn. The Memorial is located near Custer, SD and when completed will stand 563 ft. high and 640 ft. long as carved from the mountain side, the largest statue in the world. At the invitation of Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear, the statue was commissioned of Korczak Kiolkowski in 1948, and completion is expected in the mid-21st Century.

John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) - The 35th President of the U.S. (1961-1963). First Catholic and youngest man to hold the presidential title. Secured the withdrawal of Soviet missiles from Cuba in 1962. Supporter of civil rights, creator of the Peace Corps, a war hero who won the Purple Heart, the Navy and Marine Corp Medal while serving on a PT boat during WWII. Married Jacqueline Bouvier in 1953. Was assassinated in Dallas, TX by Lee Harvey Oswald on Nov. 22, 1963. "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
Coast Guard Cutter - The Guard began its history as the Revenue Cutter Service, created in 1790 at the recommendation of Alexander Hamilton to stamp out smuggling and piracy along the coasts of the U.S.. From 1790 until 1798 the RCS served as the nation's only naval force. Today the Coast Guard protects life and property, enforces sea laws, and supports the Navy using ships and stations, aircraft and weapons. Since the terrorist activities of Sept. 11, 2001, Coast Guard duties have expanded to cover fresh-water continental areas, as well as traditional coastal salt-water activities. Current efforts to interdict smuggling include the war on drugs and illegal immigration.

Minutemen - The Minutemen were created on Mar. 5th, 1775 in a secret town meeting to form an 18-man militia to be ready in the event of war with the British. The Minutemen saw their first action in the Battle of Concord and Lexington on Apr. 19, 1776. The Minuteman is also the symbol of the U.S. National Guard.

Minuteman Missile - The Minuteman missile was one of the most significant, strategic weapons in U.S. history, used during the Cold War. There was virtually no defense for a war that no one could win. In Oct. 1962 the U.S. learned that Cuba had Soviet nuclear missiles aimed at the U.S.. President Kennedy ordered a naval blockade. In order to avert WWIII, he demanded that the Soviet Union withdraw and dismantle all missile bases.

Powder Horn - The powder horn was a container for carrying gunpowder and used in muzzle-loading firearms. It was usually worn swung over the shoulder.

Clara Barton (1821-1912) - although she had given three years of active service as a nurse on the front lines of the Civil War, she was again ready to embark on a mission of mercy. She prevailed upon President Lincoln to advance her cause of establishing an Office of Correspondence with Friends of the Missing Men of the United States Army in Annapolis, Maryland. Her compassionate activities led to the creation of the American National Red Cross in 1881 (chartered by Congress in 1900). Under the charter, the American Red Cross is required to act as a medium of communication between members of the armed forces and their families; to carry on a system of national and international relief to alleviate suffering caused by pestilence, flood, fire and other disasters; and to devise measures for preventing such calamities. The organization currently has about 2200 local chapters, 44 regional blood centers, and 26 tissues services centers.

Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) - General and chief of the Confederate armies in the American Civil War from 1861-1865. He was a graduate of West Point in 1829, Captain of Engineers in the Mexican War, Superintendent at West Point from 1852 to 1855, and a Lieutenant Colonel of the Second Cavalry who was called on to lead the U.S. Marines that captured John Brown at Harper's Ferry in 1859. After the South seceded in 1861 he became a Confederate General at the request of President Jefferson Davis. His leadership through the next four years placed him among the world's great commanders.

Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1855) - U. S. Civil War General, Chief for the Union Army, and President of the United States (1869-1877). During the Civil War in 1864 he was made Commander in Chief. Slowly, he wore down Confederate General Lee's resistance. In 1865 he received Lee's surrender at Appomattox, VA. He reformed the civil service and ratified the Treaty of Washington with the United Kingdom in 1871.

Civil War Cannons and Cannonballs

USS Monitor - John Ericsson designed a new type of war ship for the Union Navy, made of iron rather than the traditional wood. The Union had just learned the Confederate Ship Merrimac had been refitted with a steel hull and was blowing up ships of the Union blockade. The Battle of the Ironclads took place on Mar. 8-9, 1862 at Hampton Roads, VA. The battle lasted for 3-1/2 hours. The Monitor saved the Union blockade. The Merrimac was damaged during the battle and was destroyed by the Confederates to prevent its capture by Union forces.

CSS Merrimac - Originally built in 1856, the Merrimac was burned and scuttled by Union forces on Apr. 20, 1861. Subsequently, the Confederates salvaged the ship and converted her to an armored casemate ironclad. She was commissioned as CSS Virginia in Feb. 1862, and the following month made history at the Battle of the Ironclads (Mar. 8-9, 1862) at Hampton Roads, VA.

Atomic symbol - The invention of the atomic bomb was a crucial turning point for all mankind; the beginning of the Nuclear Age (1939).

Nautilus Submarine - The first nuclear-powered submarine, completed in 1954. An atomic reactor generates heat that drives a high-speed turbine engine. Underwater speeds can reach up to 30 knots, enabling it to circumnavigate the globe without surfacing.

X30 - The Mystery Plane - Although the NASP effort was announced by President Reagan in his State of the Union address, much of the project remains shrouded in secrecy. Indeed, the scarcity of publicly available information on this project is remarkable, given the scope of the effort to date. This very high level of classification derives at least in part from the core technological innovation that was the genesis of the X-30 project.

Korean Conflict (1950-1953) -- was the first war in which a world organization, the United Nations, played a military role. It was one of the bloodiest wars in history. About a million South Korean civilians were killed, and several million were made homeless. About 580,000 UN and South Korean troops and about 1.6 million Communist troops were killed or wounded or reported missing. U.S. casualties totaled 162,708 (54,246 dead and 103,284 wounded). To date, this war holds the record for the largest number of American MIA's (approximately 1000).

Salvation Army - founded by William and Katherine Booth in England in 1861. Salvation Army work in the U.S. dates from 1880 when George Railton and 7 female workers from England founded a branch in PA. The Salvation Army was distinguished by its work with the armed services in both World Wars and by its aid to those suffering in disasters, such as floods and earthquakes, all over the world.
Colt 45 Revolver - This was the first firearm capable of firing without reloading. Also known as the Peacemaker, the 6-Shooter, and The Gun That Won the West. Some 19th Century historians have gone so far as to say that Sam Colt's (1814-1862) invention altered the course of history. "Abe Lincoln may have freed all men, but Sam Colt made them equal."

Patriot missile - advanced guided missile that uses computer-controlled radar and reflected radar signals to bring down enemy aircraft. The U.S. Army used it to bring down Scud missiles during the Gulf War. It was nicknamed "the Scud Buster."

Revolutionary war drum

Kentucky rifle - the Jaeger was the first accurate rifle developed in 1665, and brought to PA by German immigrants. In the early 1700's, the rifle was made new features such as longer barrels. They were used in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Early frontiersman used these rifles for hunting and self-defense.

Bowie knife - was designed by Jim Bowie's brother Rezin. It was made with a heavy handle and a curved blade that allowed it to be thrown long distances with great accuracy. Jim Bowie (1796?-1836) was a frontier figure who became a prospector, Indian fighter and land speculator, and was best-known for his participation in the Battle of the Alamo, where he, Davy Crockett and Colonel William Travis were among the 189 defenders who died.

The Alamo - Site of one of the most dramatic battles ever fought. In 1836 almost less than 200 people fought to defend the Alamo against Santa Ana's Mexican army of 5,000. Because this small group of defenders had delayed Santa Ana's advancing army for 2 weeks (Feb. 23-Mar. 6), General Sam Houston had enough time to mobilize his army. Seven weeks after this encounter, Sam Houston's army used the battle cry "Remember the Alamo". With 400 Texans, they massacred the Mexican forces at the San Jacinto River on Apr. 21, 1836. After a battle that killed 600 Mexicans and only 9 Texans, General Santa Ana and 650 soldiers were taken prisoner. 4,000 Mexican troops retreated south. Texas had won its independence. Among the dead at the Alamo were patriots Jim Bowie, Colonel William Travis, and frontier statesman Davy Crockett.

George S. Patton, Jr. (1885-1945) - was born in San Gabriel, CA and attended the U.S. Military Academy in 1909. He placed fifth in the 1912 Olympic Pentathlon. He served in the 1916 Mexican Expedition. In WWI he commanded a tank brigade in France, and in 1942, he led the Allied invasion of North Africa. In 1943 he took command of the Second U.S. Army Corps and won one of the first major U.S. victories at Elguettar. He commanded the 7th Army for the invasion of Sicily in 1943. In Dec. 1944 he fought in the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne. His toughness, rough speech, and habit of being outspoken on military and political affairs earned him the nickname "Old blood and guts".

William F. Halsey, Jr. (1882-1959) - was born in Elizabeth, NJ, and entered the Naval Academy in 1900. This American Naval officer (nicknamed "Bull" Halsey) commanded the Destroyer Patrol force in WWI. He qualified as a naval aviator in 1935, Rear Admiral in 1938, Vice Admiral in 1940, and in 1942 was Commander of Allied Naval Forces in the South Pacific, where he won a decisive battle in the Solomon Islands. Following Japan's surrender in 1945 he was promoted to Fleet Admiral.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - Dedicated Nov 21, 1921, the tomb contains the remains of unknown American soldiers from World Wars I, II, the Korean War, and in 1998 the Vietnam War. Each was presented with the Medal of Honor as well as the flags that covered their caskets. The inscription reads: "Here Rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier Known but to God."

U.S. Marine Corps Insignia

U.S. Army Insignia

U.S. Navy Insignia

U.S. Air Force Insignia

U.S. Coast Guard Insignia

Vietnam War Memorial - The Vietnam Veterans Memorial (located in Washington, DC) was dedicated Nov. 13, 1982 to acknowledge and recognize the service and sacrifice of all who served in Vietnam. This statue of 3 figures represents the 2.7 million men and women in the U.S. military who served in the designated war zone.

Vietnam Veteran's Memorial (The Wall) - These polished black granite panels are inscribed with the names of over 58,000 men and women who gave their lives in the Vietnam War. Approximately 1300 of these listed are still missing (MIA's, POW's, and others).

Colin Luther Powell (1937- ) - was born in Harlem, NY. He attended City College of NY, where he also enrolled in the ROTC. In 1958 he earned a BS degree and was commissioned 2nd Lt. In the U.S. Army. As a U.S. military officer, he served two tours in Vietnam (1962-63 and 1968-69), where he earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He was named a White House Fellow, and in 1972 took an MBA degree at George Washington University while working in the Office of Management and Budget. Following that time he served in a series of military and political posts including commanding general of the V Corps in Europe (1986). Pres. Reagan appointed him national security adviser in 1987, and he was named commander of all U.S. forces in the continental U.S. in 1989, as well as four-star general. Pres. George Bush appointed him Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in Oct. 1989, the youngest officer and first African American ever named to the post. As chairman, Powell was the chief operating officer during the Persian Gulf War, and he retired from the military on Sept. 30, 1993. Powell was appointed U.S. Secretary of State by President George W. Bush on Jan. 20, 2001.

POW*MIA Banner - The first Geneva Convention was signed in 1864. New provisions were added in 1906, 1929, 1949 and 1977. The Conventions provide for the humane treatment of civilians, prisoners and wounded persons in wartime. Methods are provided to identify the dead and wounded, and to send information to their families. The protection of hospitals and medical transports with their proper marking with a red cross are also enumerated.

General Norman H. Schwarzkopf (1934 - ) - was born in Trenton, NJ, son of a major general in the U.S. Army. He attended the U.S. Military Academy and took a Master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of So. Cal. He served twice in Vietnam (1965-66, and 1969-70), then commanded troops in the U.S. and worked in the Pentagon. In 1983 he was deputy commander of the joint task force and principal Army adviser during the U.S. military operation in Grenada. In 1988, was appointed commander in chief of U.S. Central Command, the headquarters for military operations in 18 countries of Africa and Asia. He retired from the Army in Aug., 1991.

F-18 -

Pentagon - this five-side building is headquarters of the Department of Defense, is one of the world's largest office buildings. Approximately 23,000 employees daily ride past 200 acres of lawn to park approximately 8,770 cars in 16 parking lots; climb 131 stairways or ride 19 escalators to reach offices that occupy 3,705,793 square ft.. While in the building, they use 4,200 clocks, 691 water fountains, 284 rest rooms, 4,500 cups of coffee, 1,700 pints of milk and 6,800 soft drinks dispensed in 1 dining room, 2 cafeterias, 6 snack bars, and an outdoor snack bar. Over 200,000 telephone calls are made daily through phones connected by 100,000 miles of telephone cable. The Defense Post Office handles about 1,200,000 pieces of mail monthly. Various libraries support our personnel in research and completion of their work. The Army Library alone provides 300,000 publications and 1,700 periodicals in various languages.

F-14 Tomcat - The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing, two-place strike fighter.

Aircraft Carrier - Carriers are the largest warship in the world. They carry 85-100 planes; fighters, bombers, tankers, anti-submarine aircraft, and usually 6 helicopters. They are protected by cruisers, destroyers, and submarines. Such a fleet is called a "carrier task force" or "battle group". The Langley was the first converted carrier in 1922. The first carrier specifically built was the Ranger in 1934. The U.S. Navy operates the largest carrier fleet in the world, a total of 12: Nuclear powered (CVN) Enterprise, Nimitz (#68), Dwight D. Eisenhower (#69), Carl Vinson (#70), Theodore Roosevelt (#71), Abraham Lincoln (#72), George Washington (73), John C. Stennis (#74), and Harry S. Truman (#75). The Reagan (#76) is to be commissioned in 2008. The 3 oil-powered (CV) are the John F. Kennedy (#67), Kittyhawk (#63) and Constellation (#64).