Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), today announced a $1 million contribution to the National Museum of the United States Army. Bell Helicopter will sponsor its iconic Bell UH-1 Iroquois Utility Helicopter as the featured macro artifact of the Museum’s Vietnam War exhibit.

Robert Hastings, Bell Helicopter’s Senior Vice President of Communications & Government Affairs and Chief of Staff, presented the ceremonial check to retired Army Gen. William W. Hartzog, President of the Army Historical Foundation (AHF) earlier today at the 2014 Association of the United States Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

“Bell Helicopter has been an important part of Army Aviation dating back to 1948 with the first Army helicopter, the Bell H-13B Sioux,” said Hastings. “We are proud to support the campaign for the creation of the National Museum for the U.S. Army, and it is our privilege to show our support for the men and women who have served in the U.S. Army by contributing to this inspirational and important effort.”

Bell Helicopter’s contribution places the company in the Museum’s Five- Star Circle of Distinction reserved for donors of $1 million or more.

“We certainly appreciate Bell Helicopter’s generous investment in the Museum project,” said Hartzog. “What’s more, we believe Bell’s selection of this particular exhibit sponsorship in the Fighting for the Nation gallery’s Vietnam War exhibit is spot on. It allows the company not only to showcase the critical importance of the ubiquitous Huey in support of our troops in Vietnam, but also to underscore the company’s longstanding record of providing innovative aircraft designed with Soldier speed, safety and survivability in mind.”

According to David S. Lewis, AHF’s Chief Development Officer, over 7,000 Bell UH-1 were flown in Vietnam. The specific model for the Museum exhibit will be a Bell UH-1B flown by the 129th Assault Helicopter Company, 1st Cavalry Division, from March 1966 until February 1969.

“As a combat artist in Vietnam, I made over 20 combat assaults—some hot, some not. One was off a boat. The rest were from Bell UH-1 Hueys. Now, 45 years later, if a Bell helicopter is overhead I look up. All Vietnam veterans do. There is no other sound like it. Hueys took us everywhere in Vietnam, so I’m personally delighted to welcome Bell Helicopter to the National Museum of the United States Army team,” Lewis noted.

About Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical-lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell’s global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit www.textron.com.