National Museum of the Marine Corps dedicated
QUANTICO, Va. — In what seemed like Mother Nature’s nod to the Corps, the sky above the National Museum of the Marine Corps was free of clouds. It was unusual for a November day in northern Virginia, as the sun heated the area just outside Quantico to nearly 70 degrees.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2349122.php
November 10, 2006
By Beth Zimmerman
Staff writer
Not a bad day to turn 231.
Following a year of construction, the Corps got its own museum today during a dedication that included President Bush, every living commandant, Marine-turned-country-artist Josh Gracin, veterans — and of course, a whole lot of Marines. The dedication fell on the Corps’ 231st birthday.
“It think it’s long overdue for a service that well deserves it,” said Army Capt. Jimmy Ryan, a student at the Expeditionary Warfare School and an infantry officer, commenting on the Corps’ new museum.
In the hours before the ceremony, the area outside of the museum buzzed. “I joined the Marine Corps for two reasons,” said an older Marine in a video projected onto three larger-than-life screens. “The dress blues … and that they see action.”
Leathernecks decked out in their dress blues wished each other happy birthday as men and women wearing red Marine Corps League hats squinted against the sun when they stopped to smile for photographs.
“Fifty years ago today, I was at Parris Island,” said Frank Real, a member of the Westfield, Mass., Marine Corps League who traveled here from Massachusetts for the dedication.
“This is the most meaningful birthday I’ve had,” said Sgt. Sara Jo Allen, a geographical intelligence analyst stationed at Quantico. Allen said she has already seen the inside of the museum, and “it’s really well done — a lot more than I expected. The battle scenes are really amazing. It’s more than just stuff hanging on the walls.”
Located on a 135-acre site next to Quantico, the museum spans 118,000 square feet and officially opens to the public Monday. It’s a joint public/private project between the Corps and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation that features 231 years of history — with more to come.
“Our history is the standard against which we measure our performance today,” said Marine Commandant Gen. Mike Hagee, in a written message. The museum is “a place for every Marine — both past and present — to reflect on our heritage and pay tribute to the Marines of yesteryear. It is a place where we will tell the Marine Corps story to all Americans — and it’s a great story to tell.”
The museum “captures the spirit that every Marine has,” Hagee said during the ceremony, just before Bush spoke.
“For too long, the only people to have the direct experience of the Marine Corps have been Marines themselves and the enemy who made the mistake of taking them on,” said Bush, who called the museum the most modern to date.
“This museum will not make you a Marine. A DI will do that,” Bush said, adding that it would put visitors in Marines’ boots and help them understand the pride of belonging to the Corps.
“Years from now, Americans will speak of the battle of Fallujah ... with the same reverence as Iwo Jima,” Bush said, adding that “the history of the Corps is now being written by a new generation of Marines.”
“And as long as we have this museum, America will never forget their sacrifices.”