Price of freedom: American History Museum exhibit opens.

On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2004, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History opened a permanent new exhibition titled "The Price of Freedom." This display covers the history of the U.S. military from the Colonial era to the present, exploring ways that wars have been defining, episodes in American history. The exhibition is a unique blend of original objects, first-person accounts, video presentations, and interactive experiences.

"This memorable exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of America's wartime experiences throughout its history," said Washington Headquarters Executive Director David W. Gorman. "Visitors will gain a better understanding of the sacrifices of individuals, from veterans and their families to the nation as a whole, that will help them realize that freedom is not free."

"The price of Freedom" features an area designed to honor veterans' service to their country. In a display on the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor, visitors will hear medal recipients tell their own stories heroism. A final video recognizes the suffering and sacrifice that all veterans and their families have made to support and defend their nation.

Using more than 700 original artifacts, Graphic images, and interactive Stations, the exhibit will tell stories of how Americans have fought to establish the nation's independence, determine its border, shape its values of freedom and opportunity, and define its leading role in world affairs. The scope of the exhibition goes beyond a survey of battles to examine wars as both social and military events. It also analyzes the relationship between wars and American political leadership, social values, technological innovation, and personal sacrifice.

Among the artifacts on display is a prosthetic arm with wooden fingers and metal joints named for William Carnes, an amputee who fashioned the first workable shoulder harness design around 1915.

The exhibition has major sections on the following wars:

* The Revolutionary War

* The Civil War

* World War II

* The Cold War

* The Vietnam War 

* Afghanistan and Iraq

As visitors enter the gallery, they will he transported back to 1756, where they will find American colonists fighting alongside the British in the French and Indian War. The colonists then turn against the British to fight for independence in the American Revolution. As the story goes from there to recent conflicts, visitors will see an array of images, interactive media, and military objects, including battle flags, firearms, swords, uniforms, medals, and soldiers' equipment. Highlights include George Washington's commission as the first Commander in Chief, a regimental flag of Civil War black troops, the surrender furniture from Appomattox Court House, and a World War II Jeep. An icon of the Vietnam War, a restored UH-1H Huey helicopter, is the largest single object on display. The exhibition extends to recent wars and shows selected objects from Operations Desert Storm and operations in Iraqi and Afghanistan.

Displays tell stories of how women and children as well as men have been a part of the nation's military history. Young people will have a range of hands-on opportunities to explore the soldier's experience in different eras. Interpreters in period costumes will engage the audience and answer questions.

The National Museum of American History in Washington is open daily from 10 a. m. to 5:30 p. m., except Dec. 25. For more information, visit the museum's Web site at http://americanhistory. si.edu or call [phone], [phone] (TTY).