Apr 26, 2024

The First Infantry Division Museum at Fort Riley officially re-opens

Posted Apr 26, 2024 11:46 PM

By Anthony Gorges

JC Post

The First Infantry Division Museum at Fort Riley is officially open following a ribbon-cutting on Friday afternoon. The museum has been under construction since 2018. 

Jim Sharp, a veteran of World War II, cut the ribbon to officially re-open the First Infantry Division Museum. (Pictured left to right: Dr. Bob Smith, Director of Fort Riley Museums, Jim Sharp, World War II Veteran, and Major General John V. Meyer, III). 
Jim Sharp, a veteran of World War II, cut the ribbon to officially re-open the First Infantry Division Museum. (Pictured left to right: Dr. Bob Smith, Director of Fort Riley Museums, Jim Sharp, World War II Veteran, and Major General John V. Meyer, III). 

Dr. Bob Smith, Director of Museums at Fort Riley, spoke to the crowd and stated the process in total, from the beginning of planning stages to completion, has taken nearly 15 years. When thanking his staff and everyone involved with the process, Smith said, "We accomplished our mission, my sincere thanks and appreciation, Duty First."

Dr. Bob Smith, Director of Museums at Fort Riley, addresses the crowd on Friday in front of the First Infantry Division Museum. 
Dr. Bob Smith, Director of Museums at Fort Riley, addresses the crowd on Friday in front of the First Infantry Division Museum. 

Major General John V. Meyer, III was another speaker at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. He explained the history of the First Infantry Division and the many battles they have fought throughout their 107-year history. 

Major General Meyer stated that he is frequently asked, "Why do we have army museums?" Major General Meyer said, "There are 13,578 reasons why. Those are the names on the monument that I will rededicate next month at the White House in Washington D.C," he said.

Major General John V. Meyer, III speaks to the crowd about the history of the First Infantry Division and the impacts they have made throughout their 107-year history. 
Major General John V. Meyer, III speaks to the crowd about the history of the First Infantry Division and the impacts they have made throughout their 107-year history. 

Present at the ceremony was Jim Sharp, a veteran of World War II with the First Infantry Division. Major General John V. Meyer, III, acknowledged the presence of Sharp and presented him with a World War II patch.

Major General John V. Meyer, III presents a World War II patch to World War II Veteran of the First Infantry Division, Jim Sharp. (Sharp turned 100 years old on Thursday, April 25, and attended the ribbon-cutting of the re-opening of the First Infantry Division Museum on Friday). 
Major General John V. Meyer, III presents a World War II patch to World War II Veteran of the First Infantry Division, Jim Sharp. (Sharp turned 100 years old on Thursday, April 25, and attended the ribbon-cutting of the re-opening of the First Infantry Division Museum on Friday). 

Following the ribbon-cutting, everyone in attendance was invited to tour the inside of the museum. 

The First Infantry Division Museum is now open to the public year-round. Hours are Sundays, 12:00 p.m. -4:30 p.m., and Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Below are photos from inside the newly remodeled museum. -       (Photos by Anthony Gorges)

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The full ribbon cutting ceremony can be watched here:

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