Tuesday, May 1, 2012

National Museum of the Marine Corps

The National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia is an American history museum with the history told through the stories of individual Marines. We have seen this museum numerous times on our travels up and down I-95 but had never stopped. This time we were stopping in Stafford, Virginia to return our traveling companion Teri to her daughters and grand babies and were camping only 6 miles from the museum so it was a very opportune time to learn more about the USMC (Uncle Sam's Misguided Children).

Curstis Worth Fentress, the architect who designed the Museum has said that his primary inspiration for the design of the Museum came from the famous image of the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima.

The history of the Corps began with the founding of the Continental Marines in November, 1775. Their mission was to provide shipboard security and to conduct ship-to-ship fighting. Marines have served in nearly every conflict in US history and the mission of the Corps has evolved through the years. From strictly shipboard fighting to land engagements to amphibious landings and air warfare. From the Halls of Montezuma (the Mexican-American War) to the Shores of Tripoli (the Barbary Wars), the US Civil War, the Boxer Rebellion, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq, Afganistan, and numerous other conficts, the Marines have seen it all and done it all.

                                                                     US Civil War                                                

                                                             Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima
                                                                             WWII

                                                                   Amphibious Landing

Viet Nam

WWI

                                                                                     

                                                      If these guys are coming after you -
                                                                 be afraid - be very afraid

Semper Fidelis – Always Faithful! As free Americans we owe a huge debt of thanks to the United States Marine Corps.

Admission to the Museum is free!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love your travels and your posts. Keep them coming! Your friends in MN soon moving to KY.

~Cheryl said...

What a wonderful tribute -- and admission is free (to the museum). So glad you had the opportunity to visit and then share with us.