Editors’ Note

A significant shift in U.S. military policy towards cultural property protection (CPP) has been documented, marking a departure from historical practices that often neglected or even destroyed historic sites during conflicts. The study highlights the ratification of the 1954 Hague Convention by the U.S. Senate in 2009, following devastating incidents such as the looting of the Iraqi National Museum and damage to ancient sites like Samarra. This change is attributed to advocacy efforts by key figures, including Corine Wegener at the Smithsonian Institution and Laurie Rush from the Department of the Army, who played pivotal roles in integrating CPP into military planning and training. The research draws on conference proceedings and historical analysis to underscore the evolving recognition of cultural heritage preservation in modern military doctrine.

Kapp, P. H., & Bergeron, E. (Eds.). (2022). Editors’ Note. Preservation Education & Research, 14(1), vii–vix. https://doi.org/10.1353/per.2022.a910525