Full Breakdown
Museum of the Bible’s “Bible in Times of War” Exhibit Shows Faith Across America’s Conflicts
By Drooid · · How we work
Exhibit Overview
The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. opened a new display on the second floor of its Bible in America section the day after Memorial Day, marking the nation’s 250-year anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Curated by Marine veteran Wesley Viner, the “Bible in Times of War” exhibit assembles a range of military Bibles—from Civil-War era volumes to a 1950s Antarctic chaplain’s gift—to illustrate how American service members have turned to Scripture for comfort, courage and a sense of protection throughout generations of conflict.
Historical Artifacts Featured
Among the most recognizable items are the “Heart Shield Bibles,” pocket-size books with thin metal covers sold in large numbers during World II and the Korean War. Viner notes that, while the metal is unlikely to stop high-velocity ammunition, families purchased them as symbolic shields for their loved ones. —show the personal prayers families sent with departing soldiers.
The exhibit also includes a battered Union soldier’s Bible belonging to John Weissenheimer of the 107th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, whose inscription places him at Lincoln Hospital serving in the Invalid Corps. Viner says the Bible prevents Weissenheimer from becoming “a forgotten name.”
Finally, a 1776 German-language Bible printed by Christoph Sauer—often called the “Gun-Wad Bible”—is displayed with competing legends about its use as musket wadding, which Viner believes contain little factual basis.
Curator Insight
Viner emphasizes that the artifacts reveal both the tangible and symbolic roles of Scripture. He describes the metal covers as “largely symbolic” sources of protection and strength, and he points out that anonymity of many handwritten prayers can make them “even more powerful.” According to Viner, the collection demonstrates that service members responded to the stresses of war in varied ways, yet many consistently sought “strength, courage, relief and hope” from the Bible.
Significance and Impact
By pairing personal notes with broader historical narratives, the exhibit underscores the enduring emotional bond between American families and their service members. It offers historians a rare window into individual experiences that textbooks often overlook, while reminding contemporary visitors of the timeless role of faith in the nation’s military heritage.