National Infantry Museum stays open for Fourth of July weekend

COLUMBUS, Ga. ( WRBL ) — While many local offices are closed Friday for a four-day Fourth of July weekend, the National Infantry Museum is still accepting visitors.

Across the holiday weekend, the museum will maintain normal business hours. Today, it opened doors opened at 9 a.m.

“I figured since this is going to be my job – my MOS [Military Occupational Specialty] – in the next few years of my life, I’d want to learn about it and see the history behind my career,” Pvt. Daynin Mclain said.

Mclain was at the NIM for the first time, having graduated from nine weeks of basic training at Fort Moore earlier this week. He was looking forward to exploring the exhibits alongside his family.

Over the course of the past months, the soldier said he has experienced significant personal growth. The most important lesson?

“To not quit, keep going,” Mclain said. “If it’s hard, keep going.”

Finishing basic training is one of the soldier’s first steps in realizing a lifelong goal to serve the country.

He said, “It’s been a blast to finally have a break but, I mean, graduating basic on its own, it was really rewarding.”

The NIM, which is free to visit, will remain open throughout the holiday weekend with normal hours. Saturday it is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More information about the NIM is available on the museum’s website .

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