NC Exit 46: At the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, NC, the world famous Clydesdale horse will be visiting on May 25th from 11-1 pm. These huge horses are known as the “gentle giants”. Anheuser-Busch will present the eight-horse Budweiser Clydesdale hitch allowing photo opportunities in front of the museum.
Also in front of the museum, is the original Iron Mike statue. He represents all paratroopers in the U.S. Army who are always watching, waiting, and alert.
The museum depicts the legends of those who jump into battle. The impressive 5-story glass walled lobby sets the stage with 2 fully deployed parachutes: a WW II era T-5 round chute and a modern MC-4 square chute. Look for the story of Lieutenant Bill Ryder, leader of the Test Platoon, who on August 16th, 1940 became the first American soldier to jump.
You can walk through a section of a C-47, sit on crates in a WW II Army briefing hut, learn about gliders that landed jeeps and bulldozers, see a famous UH-1 (Huey) helicopter from ‘Nam days and a Desert Storm hide-site.
Another exhibit traces the development of the Special Forces, or “Green Berets”, from the summer of 1952 to Operation Enduring Freedom.
Tel: 910- 643-2779.
Hours: T-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5
For a cellphone audio tour: 910-216-3040
Date and Time: Sat May 25: 11-1
www.asomf.org