The U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield is holding a meeting that is free and open to the public on September 26, 1:30-4:30, in the Ripley Auditorium of the Smithsonian Institution.
The focus of the meeting will be activities that protect and preserve the cultural heritage of four Central American countries: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
During the past year USCBS has designed and produced decks of playing cards that will be distributed to members of the military in those countries in conjunction with training by US SOUTHCOM on the necessity of protecting cultural heritage in accordance with the provisions of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its two Protocols. Funding for the project was provided by the Smithsonian Institution and facilitated by the Foundations of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.
The cards will be displayed and presented to a representative of US SOUTHCOM at the meeting.
Latest News & Alerts
February 3, 2026
The main priority in any emergency should always be the protection of human life. Still, as a cultural organization committed to the protection of cultural property for the benefit of the future, we know that cultural [...]
December 1, 2025
Our work relies on the generosity of members and supporters like you. Thank you for your support of our mission and your dedication to cultural heritage protection! This Giving Tuesday, please consider becoming a member or gifting a [...]
November 20, 2025
Thank you to everyone who attended our webinar, "Heritage in Crisis and Conflict: Canadian Considerations for Cultural Protection," on November 19th! Dr. Shannon Lewis-Simpson of the Canadian Armed Forces and Memorial University provided a thorough overview [...]


