Rocket at Maryland museum found to be live

updated 6:45 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2008

In a Jan. 23 story about a rocket on display at a veterans' museum in Maryland, The Associated Press, relying on information from the Maryland State Fire Marshal's office, erroneously reported the rocket was live. The office learned late Wednesday that the Mark 1 rocket was a dummy after it was examined by Army experts.

CUMBERLAND, Md. - A rocket on display for two years at veterans' museum was discovered to be live Wednesday and was removed safely, authorities said.

The Allegany County's Combined County Criminal Investigations unit and the State Fire Marshal's Office said the ordnance was on display at the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 172 on North Liberty Street. The ordnance was a 48-inch by 2.75-inch Mark 1 Rocket similar to those used on helicopter gun ships during the Vietnam conflict, Deputy State Fire Marshal Joseph Zurolo Jr. said.

The rocket was donated to the museum at the chapter building by a local Vietnam veteran about two years ago, he said.

On Wednesday, Allegany County law enforcers were notified that the rocket might be live. Bomb squad officers from the fire marshal's office and the FBI went to the museum, examined the rocket and found it was live. Technicians removed the rocket and rendered it safe.

Authorities are investigating how the local man came to possess the live ordnance.

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