NEWS
General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum Honors Anniversary of 9/11
For Immediate Release: September 1, 2023
(HOBART, Okla.) – The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum pays homage to the nearly 3,000 men, women and children who perished during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks through its permanent exhibit, “9/11: Never Forget.” The museum memorializes the 22nd anniversary of the fateful day and encourages attendees to view the exhibit in remembrance of the lives lost and the deep impact on our nation. The exhibit places visitors into the day of the attacks in New York City and features numerous multi-media displays, interactives, videos and artifacts including pieces of the World Trade Center.
“It’s important for us to continue to remember and learn about the implications of the events of Sept. 11, 2001,” said Gen. Tommy Franks (Ret.). “This exhibit is a symbolic and special part of the Museum, and we are proud to tell the story, preserve important artifacts and honor those who were lost and greatly impacted. This is a moving experience, and we wish to encourage visitors to discuss and educate others about the world before and after 9/11.”
At the time of the attacks, General Tommy Franks was a Four-Star General and had been serving as the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Central Command for just over one year. On Sept. 12, 2001, General Franks started planning and preparing for military operations in Afghanistan under the direction of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and President George W. Bush. General Franks and his team created a plan for the mission in Afghanistan to defeat Al Qaeda and remove the Taliban, utilizing coalition forces to conduct an unconventional war with special operations, air and ground forces. General Franks was heavily involved in strategic operations, but also in forming a coalition of 65 nations to fight the war on terror.
The “9/11: Never Forget” exhibit takes visitors through a chronological timeline experience of the day in New York City. They first encounter a video message from former President George W. Bush commemorating General Franks' service, then they see the World Trade Center before the attack. Next, an authentic New York City firefighter’s suit symbolizes the time just after the attack and the heroic rescue efforts. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a 14-foot-long, 3,000-lb. steel I-beam from the World Trade Center. Other areas of the exhibit are dedicated to the Pentagon and our nation’s response featuring President Bush’s address, vowing that America, its friends and allies would “stand together and win the war against terrorism.”
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, please visit TommyFranksMuseum.org.
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum was created as a historical foundation dedicated to telling the story of the United States military and education. Its mission is to inspire leadership, patriotism and service. For more information, visit TommyFranksMuseum.org.
For Immediate Release: September 1, 2023
(HOBART, Okla.) – The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum pays homage to the nearly 3,000 men, women and children who perished during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks through its permanent exhibit, “9/11: Never Forget.” The museum memorializes the 22nd anniversary of the fateful day and encourages attendees to view the exhibit in remembrance of the lives lost and the deep impact on our nation. The exhibit places visitors into the day of the attacks in New York City and features numerous multi-media displays, interactives, videos and artifacts including pieces of the World Trade Center.
“It’s important for us to continue to remember and learn about the implications of the events of Sept. 11, 2001,” said Gen. Tommy Franks (Ret.). “This exhibit is a symbolic and special part of the Museum, and we are proud to tell the story, preserve important artifacts and honor those who were lost and greatly impacted. This is a moving experience, and we wish to encourage visitors to discuss and educate others about the world before and after 9/11.”
At the time of the attacks, General Tommy Franks was a Four-Star General and had been serving as the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Central Command for just over one year. On Sept. 12, 2001, General Franks started planning and preparing for military operations in Afghanistan under the direction of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and President George W. Bush. General Franks and his team created a plan for the mission in Afghanistan to defeat Al Qaeda and remove the Taliban, utilizing coalition forces to conduct an unconventional war with special operations, air and ground forces. General Franks was heavily involved in strategic operations, but also in forming a coalition of 65 nations to fight the war on terror.
The “9/11: Never Forget” exhibit takes visitors through a chronological timeline experience of the day in New York City. They first encounter a video message from former President George W. Bush commemorating General Franks' service, then they see the World Trade Center before the attack. Next, an authentic New York City firefighter’s suit symbolizes the time just after the attack and the heroic rescue efforts. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a 14-foot-long, 3,000-lb. steel I-beam from the World Trade Center. Other areas of the exhibit are dedicated to the Pentagon and our nation’s response featuring President Bush’s address, vowing that America, its friends and allies would “stand together and win the war against terrorism.”
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, please visit TommyFranksMuseum.org.
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum was created as a historical foundation dedicated to telling the story of the United States military and education. Its mission is to inspire leadership, patriotism and service. For more information, visit TommyFranksMuseum.org.