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Museum spotlights Global War on Terror with rebuilt signpost and Afghanistan gate replica
Summary
Curators described reconstructing a wooden signpost from a 1990–91 unit and working with Metro Steel to create a replica gate tied to Sgt. David Leinbach; the artifacts anchor a Global War on Terror exhibit.
Chris Melka said the museum reconstructed a wooden signpost associated with a 251st unit that was stationed during Desert Storm and that staff used a photograph and donated metalwork to recreate an Afghan compound gate that anchors the Global War on Terror exhibit. Melka recounted that a metal works shop in West Columbia, Metro Steel, donated a replica of a painted metal compound gate shown in historical photos.
Melka described the gate as personal to the unit: the original was linked to Sgt. David Leinbach (identified in the interview as from Taylor's, S.C.), who was killed in action in 2008. The curators said the recreated artifacts aim to bring visitors closer to individual service members’ stories and to provide a stronger emotional connection: "you walk in and you see and it's just such an impactful moment" (Heather McPherson, senior curator).
The curators also described rotating modern-operations material and artifacts recovered from Persian Gulf deployments, including a wind‑beaten flag from a Saudi base, and said they are planning oral-history and documentary elements to connect former members to the displays.
