National Museum of the Marine Corps - Quantico
The exhibits are powerful – but nothing is more powerful than the presence of the young Marines who are touring the museum with us. Minutes after we get our bearings in the huge main lobby, the first group marches in. They listen to instructions from their commanding officer (in perfect lines, on one bent knee in the front row) and respond with a resounding “YES, SIR!!!” after each one. Some are dispatched to exhibits, some to the mess hall restaurant upstairs. They look so young and earnest, with their hair cut so short and their shoulders squared, heads held high. There are women too, but their hair appears to have been spared.
It’s very humbling to visit this museum in their company. After the recruitment and bootcamp exhibitions and films, we go chronologically through wars Marines have fought in – we experience sights and sounds of WWI, Korea, Viet Nam. Seeing the actual flag that was hoisted by the Marines on Iwo Jima is breathtaking. Who can forget that iconic photo.
As frivolous as a delicious lunch sounds in these circumstances – we had one here. On second floor they have a recreation of the 18th century Tun Tavern, in Philadelphia, where according to legend the first colonial Marines were recruited in 1775. There’s an interesting mural on one of the walls, and at one point during our meal the tavern-keeper gave a great talk about who was portrayed in it and why.
At the end of the day, we walk back to our Navion motorhome as some of the recruits are boarding their buses. It’s hard to imagine what their futures hold. All we can do is thank them and say a prayer for their safety.
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