Marine Corps Museum

Marine Corps Museum

Aloha, Buckaroos and Buckerettes,

Welcome, welcome, welcome to 2007. I hope you brought a clean towel. Ya know, this grand and glorious country of ours is filled with hard-working, patriotic Americans who have joined our Armed Forces, and it's not often where you find a place that reaches in and touches your heart with the awesome responsibility these people have taken on.

On this trip, Red had a new companion. Red's brother has been visiting, and so, Ladies and Gennlemen, please allow me to introduce Red's Side Kick, "Kick Start". L'il Red and I hope he'll be on the trail with us a lot.

The brand-spankin' new Marine Corps Museum, is located just a stone's throw from the Marine base in Quantico. You can see the top of the museum rise above the trees on Innerstate 95, and it is an abstract reminder of the flag raising in Iwo Jima. As you come off the exit, you see one of the gates to the Marine base, and on the corner is a replica of the Iwo flag raising. The driveway up to the museum brings you to a traffic circle with a flagpole in the center, and as you come around the circle into the parking lot, you are greeted by the commanding spectacle of the museum and its grounds.

Once you enter, you are greeted by huge circular atrium named Leatherneck Gallery. In this room are photos of Marines past and present, aircraft, and quotes by and for Marines. There are 2 dioramas, and a number of Marine aircraft, generally covering from WW I through Viet Nam. There is a stadium-seating theater showing an introductory movie with commentary from Marines of all kinds, from Senator (Colonel, USMC, retired) John Glenn, to recent combat veterans.

After the theater, you enter the exhibits, starting with the yellow footprints and the boot camp experience. There is a soundproof booth where you are treated to an obscenity free invective from a Drill Instructor. There are booths for both male and female recruits, and seemed to be quite a shock to those that have never been though it.

The museum is arranged in a half-moon crescent, with a timeline on the inside of the crescent, and separate wings for each armed conflict the Marine Corps participated in. The timeline is way cool, because not only does it list the Marine Corps history from Tun Tavern to modern day, but it also lists what was happening in the world at the same time - F'rinstance, one of the timeline's entries shows when Winnie the Pooh first made his literary debut. How cool is that???!!!??? Winnie the Pooh and the Marines in the same building.

There is a ton of history, and as you move through the museum, you will find Retired Marines, Former Marines and Active Duty Marines expressing their admiration and their pride in the Marine Corps. You will also find emotional moments, as these fine Americans share their honor, their brotherhood, and their grief for the Marines who didn't come home. If you happen upon these events, please be respectful, and remember that every Marine in this hallowed place (or any member of our Armed Forces) should be thanked for their service, bought a beer (or other beverage), and remembered as Defenders of Your Freedom.

This reminds me - The museum staff is very small, and is assisted by a handful of active duty Marines. They are, for the most part, combat veterans, and they add a wonderful esprit de corps to the museum.

Outside the museum is a memorial garden, bordered by engraved bricks. The engraved brick is part of the museum fund-raising, and by donating a sum, you may get a brick in the garden. What impressed me so much was the number of multi-generational bricks. Grandfathers, fathers and sons, Marines all, with a brick to immortalize their service to our great country. There are also bricks for the Devil Docs, the Navy Hospital Corpsman who saved many lives, even giving their own life to bring Marines to safety.

We ate lunch at the Mess Hall, which had great chow, although a little expensive. The sloppy joe was excellent, and they also had pizza and sandwiches. The portions were generous, and the mess hall itself is bright and cheerful.

Ole Red strongly recommends this museum to all Americans who are proud of the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. This trip was a humbling and awe-inspiring lesson for Red.

'Til Next Time (TNT), Semper Fi, OOH-RAH, and all that great Marine Stuff,

Red

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