thedrifter
07-08-08, 07:41 AM
Last Update: 7/7/2008 10:03:00 PM
Marines museum gives a sense of service
By Amy Orndorff
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON - Washington is a city of memorials to war heroes, but beyond the Beltway near Quantico Marine Base in Virginia is another tribute to brave Americans at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
The stunning building, interactive exhibits and cost (it's free!) rival anything that Washington has to offer.
The museum commands attention even from nearby Interstate 95. Its 210-foot spire replicates the 60-degree angle at which the U.S. flag was planted on Iwo Jima in World War II.
A good museum teaches patrons a bit about the past. A great museum immerses visitors in history so they truly understand its gravity. This is a great museum.
A good place to start, especially if you have kids, is the "Making Marines" exhibit. There is plenty to touch and interact with, including a booth in which a drill sergeant yells in your ear, a bar with instructions on how to do a proper pull-up and a heavy backpack to try on.
That is just prep. The rest of the tour proves that basic training is the easiest part of being a Marine.
The World War II exhibit helps visitors understand what landing on Iwo Jima was like. Visitors step into a small, dim room that resembles the hull of a ship. A commander explains the importance of the mission, and then a door opens onto a reproduction of a Higgins boat, ready to land on the Japanese island.
Ellie
Marines museum gives a sense of service
By Amy Orndorff
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON - Washington is a city of memorials to war heroes, but beyond the Beltway near Quantico Marine Base in Virginia is another tribute to brave Americans at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
The stunning building, interactive exhibits and cost (it's free!) rival anything that Washington has to offer.
The museum commands attention even from nearby Interstate 95. Its 210-foot spire replicates the 60-degree angle at which the U.S. flag was planted on Iwo Jima in World War II.
A good museum teaches patrons a bit about the past. A great museum immerses visitors in history so they truly understand its gravity. This is a great museum.
A good place to start, especially if you have kids, is the "Making Marines" exhibit. There is plenty to touch and interact with, including a booth in which a drill sergeant yells in your ear, a bar with instructions on how to do a proper pull-up and a heavy backpack to try on.
That is just prep. The rest of the tour proves that basic training is the easiest part of being a Marine.
The World War II exhibit helps visitors understand what landing on Iwo Jima was like. Visitors step into a small, dim room that resembles the hull of a ship. A commander explains the importance of the mission, and then a door opens onto a reproduction of a Higgins boat, ready to land on the Japanese island.
Ellie