thedrifter
03-11-07, 08:24 AM
Posted on Sun, Mar. 11, 2007
bill smith
View Marine history at new Va. museum
bill smith views on veterans
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM of the Marine Corps was officially dedicated in Quantico, Va., last November. Located between Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 opposite the main entrance to Quantico, it forms the centerpiece of the Marine Corps Heritage Center and is situated on 135 acres which were donated by Prince William County. Its exterior design, a 210-foot mast, is intended to remind visitors of the five Marines and one Navy corpsman who raised the flag at Iwo Jima in 1945.
At 118,000 square feet, the $150 million museum seeks to immerse visitors in the experience of being a Marine and the lore of the Corps. As Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Michael W. Hagee said, “Marines put a great deal of stock in history.”
The doors opened with two temporary exhibits that will be made permanent in Phase 2, covering combat art and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and four permanent galleries: World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars and boot camp. “Leatherneck” is the rotunda and features aircraft. A World War I Gallery is slated in the future. Another will cover the colonial era through the Latin American interventions known as the “Banana Wars.”
“Such museums serve to inspire and educate the public, as long as they are accurate,” said Ron Christmas, president, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, adding, “Not politically correct.”
Share your news
The Times Leader welcomes pictures and announcements about special events conducted by area veterans’ organizations. It is advantageous for veterans organizations to publicize such activities, for it gives the entire community an opportunity to see the inner workings of such organizations. Award presentations, installations of officers and new members, upcoming meetings and fund raisers are a few examples that are published.
When submitting announcements, make sure you relay what the program was about and then provide first and last names and titles of everyone in the photo. Also include the name of a contact person and phone number should there be any further information desired. Send it to Times Leader, in care of Michele Harris, community news editor, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711-0250.
Do your organization a favor -- publicize it by having it appear in print and pictures. Remember, there is never too much publicity when attempting to reach the public and the local community. Every veterans’ organization should have a public relations officer who is responsible for such efforts.
Aspire for more
About this time of the year, veterans’ organizations will elect officers for the 2007-2008 term. But before nominations begin, now is the right time to seek out members who are willing to aspire to the offices open in the election. True, it gets more difficult each year to convince members of an organization to get involved with the existence of their post homes or chapters due to other commitments such as employment and family responsibilities. But those mandated offices must be filled by the process of nomination and election.
In every organization there are members who would thoroughly enjoy the responsibilities connected with being an officer and need only be asked to consider such a decision. That male or female veteran who regularly attends meetings is a prime example. Sometimes all you have to do is ask.
Bill Smith writes for and about veterans. Write to him c/o the Times Leader, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 1871 1-0250 or leave a message at 829-7245.
Ellie
bill smith
View Marine history at new Va. museum
bill smith views on veterans
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM of the Marine Corps was officially dedicated in Quantico, Va., last November. Located between Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 opposite the main entrance to Quantico, it forms the centerpiece of the Marine Corps Heritage Center and is situated on 135 acres which were donated by Prince William County. Its exterior design, a 210-foot mast, is intended to remind visitors of the five Marines and one Navy corpsman who raised the flag at Iwo Jima in 1945.
At 118,000 square feet, the $150 million museum seeks to immerse visitors in the experience of being a Marine and the lore of the Corps. As Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Michael W. Hagee said, “Marines put a great deal of stock in history.”
The doors opened with two temporary exhibits that will be made permanent in Phase 2, covering combat art and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and four permanent galleries: World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars and boot camp. “Leatherneck” is the rotunda and features aircraft. A World War I Gallery is slated in the future. Another will cover the colonial era through the Latin American interventions known as the “Banana Wars.”
“Such museums serve to inspire and educate the public, as long as they are accurate,” said Ron Christmas, president, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, adding, “Not politically correct.”
Share your news
The Times Leader welcomes pictures and announcements about special events conducted by area veterans’ organizations. It is advantageous for veterans organizations to publicize such activities, for it gives the entire community an opportunity to see the inner workings of such organizations. Award presentations, installations of officers and new members, upcoming meetings and fund raisers are a few examples that are published.
When submitting announcements, make sure you relay what the program was about and then provide first and last names and titles of everyone in the photo. Also include the name of a contact person and phone number should there be any further information desired. Send it to Times Leader, in care of Michele Harris, community news editor, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711-0250.
Do your organization a favor -- publicize it by having it appear in print and pictures. Remember, there is never too much publicity when attempting to reach the public and the local community. Every veterans’ organization should have a public relations officer who is responsible for such efforts.
Aspire for more
About this time of the year, veterans’ organizations will elect officers for the 2007-2008 term. But before nominations begin, now is the right time to seek out members who are willing to aspire to the offices open in the election. True, it gets more difficult each year to convince members of an organization to get involved with the existence of their post homes or chapters due to other commitments such as employment and family responsibilities. But those mandated offices must be filled by the process of nomination and election.
In every organization there are members who would thoroughly enjoy the responsibilities connected with being an officer and need only be asked to consider such a decision. That male or female veteran who regularly attends meetings is a prime example. Sometimes all you have to do is ask.
Bill Smith writes for and about veterans. Write to him c/o the Times Leader, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 1871 1-0250 or leave a message at 829-7245.
Ellie