Oct. 25, 2005

In 1796, the first American troops arrived in Michigan to raise the Stars and Stripes over Fort Lernoult at Detroit.  Ever since, men and women from every branch of military service have worked and trained here in the Great Lakes state.  Now their story is being told in A Soldier's Life, a special exhibit opening on Nov. 6 and running through June 11, 2006 at the Michigan Historical Museum in downtown Lansing.

Opening-day activities for A Soldier's Life include the 2005 Veterans Tribute, sponsored by the Friends of Michigan History, beginning at 2 p.m. Gus Ganakas – former Michigan State University men's basketball coach who, as a young Marine in World War II, served during the invasion of Okinawa – will be the honored guest speaker at the tribute, which begins with a ceremonial massing of the colors.  A variety of special activities highlighting Michigan's military history will take place at the museum from 1 to 5 p.m.

"It goes without saying that life has changed quite a bit over the past 200 years, and life in the military is no exception," said Phillip C. Kwiatkowski, director of the Michigan Historical Museum System.  "A Soldier's Life explores how life as a Michigan soldier has changed over the years and how some things have stayed remarkably the same."

Through artifacts, graphics and interactive programs, visitors will experience the daily lives of troops living at various Michigan military posts.  The exhibit will allow visitors to follow changes in missions, daily jobs, food, shelter, uniforms, recreation, housing and technology during the past two centuries, as well as play a drum, use a washboard and carry gear just like our service men and women have.  A Solider's Life also examines how technological support from Michigan-based military installations and industries impacts today's citizen-soldiers.  

Each major time period and each branch of military service – Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard – are represented in the exhibit, as are major military forts and posts.

Key artifacts include: 

• 1812 Chapeau Bras - A decorated hat worn by a militia officer during the War of 1812.
   
• World War I Gas Mask - Stories about the use of poison gas in battle on the Western front were kept from the American public, as scientists and business struggled to design and produce effective masks to protect U.S. soldiers.
   
• World War II K-rations - In 1942 a new Army ration was introduced for use by mobile units. The ration contained everything a soldier needed for one meal and provided just over 1,000 calories.
   
• Add-on Armor Door (2005) - Today Michigan citizen-soldiers serve around the world and citizens back home support them through research, development and production of a wide variety of items that make our soldiers safer. One example is the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), who in conjunction with Army Research Laboratory (ARL), developed an add-on armor door that provides increased protection against small arms and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

A Soldier's Life is sponsored, in part, by the Friends of Michigan History, the Michigan Historical Center Foundation, and TARDEC.

Promotional support for A Soldiers Life is provided by: 94.1 WVIC Lansings Classic Hits; 92.1 The Ticket Lansings Sports Leader; and, 92.7 WJZL Lansings Smooth Jazz.

The Michigan Historical Museum is located inside the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 702 West Kalamazoo St., two blocks west of the State Capitol in downtown Lansing. The main entrance and visitor parking are located north of Kalamazoo Street, just east of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Museum hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Admission and weekend parking are free.

The Michigan Historical Museum, the flagship of the Michigan Historical Museum System, is fully accredited by the American Association of Museums. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/museum or call (517) 373-3559, TDD (517) 373-1592.

The Michigan Historical Museum System is a division of the Michigan Historical Center, an agency of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL). Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, HAL also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Library of Michigan, the Michigan Film Office and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.  For more information about HAL, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.