Artifact Friday: MRE

A good meal can put us all in a better mood and give us the energy we need to get through our day. What we eat is important to all of us and can dictate how we feel, act, and live our lives.

This week's Artifact Friday is dedicated to the MRE (meal ready to eat) that we have displayed, showing the different eras and types of MRE’s in our collection. Before the MRE, there were canned rations, AKA C-rations.

In the 1960s, the Department of Defense started trying to improve to something better than canned rations. Canned rations were heavy, took up a lot of space, and were loud when stacked together. Something lighter and more efficient was to be made.

The first edition was LPRs (long range patrol rations). They were freeze-dried and dehydrated military rations that were used primarily during the Vietnam War. These rations were eventually superseded by the MRE in 1981; these were efficient and worked well but were unpopular due to their bad taste and texture.

In the 90’s, the military started to work on a better edition of the MREs, and by 1993 they did. The flameless ration heater was added and did wonders for the efficiency of the MRE. Add a bit of water and seal it; the packet would become hot and would heat up MRE meals quickly and efficiently.

In the 2000s, the MRE menu expanded, allowing for more options and dietary needs to be met. MREs are a reliable hot meal that keeps soldiers fed and continues to do so.

Interested in trying an MRE? We have them in our store gift shop! There are many ways to remember the past and present of what soldiers are living through, and MREs are a good way to do that.