It's been quite a while since retired U.S. Army Col. Charles P. Murray has fought in battle.
He served in both World War II and Vietnam and his actions earned him the National Medal of Honor. And when he saw some of the pictures on display at the Florence Civic Center on Tuesday, it didn't take long for memories and emotions to come back.
"Watching some of those photographs, I was using my handkerchief," he said. "Because the tears - I wasn't crying - but the tears were coming down."
The pictures are part of a display called "The American Soldier." It features pictures of soldiers from nine wars. Cyma Ruvin, it's curator, says it's designed to show a side of soldiers that civilians don't see.
"We only see a uniform, we don't see them soldiering," she said. "But it's not a matter of just seeing them on the battlefield, it's the camaraderie it's the friendships, the humor, the family, heroics of course. And it’s a tribute, but it’s an awakening to what they really do and also to see the terrain and the geography of where they fight and have fought.”
At the gallery's opening night gala on Tuesday, Murray, Ruvin and others spoke before the crowd, followed by a performance from the Citadel's Sumerall Guards marching team. Then guests had the chance to see the gallery for themselves. Among the pictures were depictions of the tasks soldiers perform. They brought back memories for Murray.
"That reminded me of some of the actions, and some of my soldiers at that time, and that's always very very emotional to me," he said.
And he said he wishes everyone could see the display, so they could understand the sacrifices soldiers make.
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