USMC Museum in Quantico

This seemed like the most logical forum to put this in......

This past Sunday my family (Brassey@39, 2 kids & Ma) visited the "new" USMC Museum in Quantico (OK - actually "Triangle") and we HIGHLY reccomend it. They manage to pack 213 years of history into an easy to navigate set of displays and galleries. Just some info & comments:

- it takes about an hour to get there from Broadlands. Go on Sunday and plan to arrive at about 1000. Allow 4 + hours to really see & do everything.

- There are two Messes on the second deck - we did not try them so I can't comment.

- The faces on the manniquens were molded from the faces of modern Marines - no dummies here! Adds an immense amount of realism!

- If you are a Combat Vet Marine (God Bless You!), some of it might be a bit rough - there is NO sugar coating here. I am not a Vet (combat or otherwise) and some of it was a bit hard to either look at or turn away from.

- Several stunning displays. For example - on one wall they have a Globe and Anchor for each Marine killed on Iwo Jima. It's a darned big wall.

- Do the galleries in order! Start with recruiting/induction and end in the Global War on Terror/Combat Art Galleries.

- Take time to chat with the Marine on Post and some of the Vets walking around (they are not hard to spot).

- The Gifte Shoppe has some interesting stuff including patches & pins for all sorts of Marine Divisons and other units & specialties.

- It's a work in progress. Some of the displays need lighting work, some of the displays did not have a legend.

Anyway - go, it's great.

 

We just got back, and would recommend it also. Went with my dad (Vietnam Vet) so that was a bit rough. My son wore his camo outfit and was asked to be in some pictures, and a marine gave him one of his marine seals.

 

Thanks for posting, Kaos. This looks like something my son and I would find really meaningful--good for perspective, especially with our cushy suburban life and all.

 

Yeah - I made me feel like crap that I never served.

 

I dont think I am ready for that yet. Even though I wasnt a marine i did go through all the same stuff in Afghanistan and Iraq. When we went to Europe it was painful to even look at what they went through when we visited some of their musuems.

 

Yeah Skull - if you are less than two years out I'd leave it be for a long while.

By the way - Thanks for serving. You're a hero.

 

Thank you. I dont like the hero term though. It tends to make most vets uncomfortable. Mostly because all through your training they tell you that the heroes are people who die doing stupid things. Great soldeirs(marines,airmen,etc...) die doing the right thing.

But thank you for the props.

 

Kaos,

Thanks for the review. We have family coming up in August and this is definitely on the agenda.

 

Well, then, OK, let's just say "Mere words cannot ever convey how we feel about the men & women who put their es on the line every day so schmuks like me can sit at home in comfort."

Better?

 

Perfect.

I didnt mean to be rude about my "hero" aversion. But you can imagine that it is hard for me to consider myself a hero when one friend of mine lost his life because he pushed someone out of the way of what he thought sounded like a falling mortar. It was and took off his head on Thanksgiving 2003.

Another one lost his life going back into a crashed bird(helicopter) to save men that were burning inside...and as soon as he went in a RPG round blew the bird to peices, him and all his comrades with it.

 

No offense taken.

 

I went a few months ago and figured most everyone there was old jarheads like myself dragging their kids to see what dad (and mom) used to do.

For this old jarhead it was an awesome experience which I was able share with my family.

Glad to see more than just Marines appreciate the museum.

Regards,
Mike

 

Us non-Marines appreciate the actual Marines and what you've done for us, not just the museum

 

As an Army soldier who fought along side Marines I def appreciate you guys. I didnt see that much difference in Marines and Soldiers(Grunts and Redlegs only) but that is a debate for another time.

Its also great to see another ex-dual military couple in the area. My wife and I met for the first time in Iraq and have been together ever since we got home. True story. Read about it in her book.Shameless plug.

 

HOW COOL!

I am going to have to read that book since I will undoubtly meet your wife someday.

 

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.

 

Just skip the first chapter. Her publisher made her put it in there to make the book more "sexy". And she was a first time author so she couldnt say no.

And she will be embarassed if she knows I told you about the book, but it is an interesting read.