National Museum of American Jewish Military History

08/12/2026

Great to be covered by Defense News last week. Come visit the building to see what else the museum has to offer! See how to visit at nmajmh.org

https://www.defensenews.com/video/2026/08/03/step-inside-the-museum-of-american-jewish-military-history/

Within Washington, D.C. hides a repository of military history in a museum slightly off the beaten path offering stories of valor, history and culture.

08/10/2026

Medal of Honor Monday: Army Sgt. William Shemin

Army Sgt. William Shemin, a rifleman, posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 2015 for extraordinary heroism during World War I combat operations in France.

08/07/2026

Holocaust survivor and WWII Battle of the Bulge veteran Colonel Frank Cohn spoke at the NMAJMH Jewish Heroes of the Revolution and the Ongoing Legacy of Religious Freedom program last month. Cohn died at 100 years old on July 4, 2026, and we are grateful to have had him as part of our museum community. Hear more of his story here https://nmajmh.org/2026/06/jewish-heroes-of-the-revolution-and-the-ongoing-legacy-of-religious-freedom/

07/24/2026

Admiral Paul Becker spoke at the museum about his experiences as a Jewish service member, demonstrating the importance of military diversity. See the full Jewish Heroes of the Revolution and the Ongoing Legacy of Religious Freedom program at here https://nmajmh.org/2026/06/jewish-heroes-of-the-revolution-and-the-ongoing-legacy-of-religious-freedom/

07/23/2026

Lt Col Rebecca DeForest talks about her experiences as a Jewish woman in the military during our Jewish Heroes of the Revolution and the Ongoing Legacy of Religious Freedom program. See the full program here https://nmajmh.org/2026/06/jewish-heroes-of-the-revolution-and-the-ongoing-legacy-of-religious-freedom/

07/22/2026

Historian Adam Jortner discusses military diversity during the Revolutionary War at our Jewish Heroes of the Revolution and the Ongoing Legacy of Religious Freedom program. See the full program here https://nmajmh.org/2026/06/jewish-heroes-of-the-revolution-and-the-ongoing-legacy-of-religious-freedom/

07/21/2026

Congratulations Major Shmuel Bushwick! It was an honor to be able host the promotion ceremony in our chapel at the museum!

07/10/2026

COL Frank Cohn was a brave and resilient soldier who escaped the Holocaust and then returned to Europe during World War II in service for the United States. He served for 35 years and retired in 1978 as a colonel.

Cohn died on July 4, 2026, at 100 years old. His long life is an inspiration, and he will be missed by the NMAJMH community.

https://nmajmh.org/2026/07/remembering-col-frank-cohn/

07/07/2026

We remember Ben Salomon, a U.S. Army dentist whose extraordinary courage during the Battle of Saipan saved the lives of countless fellow soldiers.

On July 7, 1944, Japanese forces overran the aid station where Captain Salomon was treating wounded men. Rather than withdraw, he chose to defend the position, giving the wounded precious time to escape. When American forces later recovered the area, they found Salomon dead at his machine gun, surrounded by the enemy he had held back through his final stand.

Because he had taken up arms while serving as a medical officer, his actions were initially considered ineligible for the Medal of Honor under an interpretation of the Geneva Convention. Decades of advocacy eventually corrected that injustice, and in 2002, nearly 58 years after his death, Captain Salomon was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

https://nmajmh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/hall-of-heroes/world-war-ii/866-2/

07/04/2026

Haooy 250th!

From the arduous battles of the Revolutionary War to all the conflicts that followed, our nation's history has been shaped by the valor and dedication of our military. Generations of Jewish servicemembers have selflessly defended our rights, safeguarded our democracy, and stood strong against adversity.

Happy Independence Day!

https://mailchi.mp/nmajmh/2026fourthofjuly