Quantico, Virginia

Had to head for Virginia to see Mr. Miles for his 6th birthday.

Memorial Day weekend.  Everybody around here headed for the shore.  That shore. Big compaigns going on to rebuild the shore after hurricane Sandy.  Ocean City, the Jersey shore, New york, etc.  "Everybody come back and party on the beaches."  We decided to remember Memorial Day and those that served.

There is a Marine Museum in Quantico.  The shape of the building was inspired by the Monument of Iwo Jima.  Rolling Thunder is this weekend so there were tons of motorcycles with their veterans at the museum.  It was pretty special.  I was there with these 2 veterans and Zoe.

Throughout the museum there were realistic mannequins.  This was WW II "The marines have landed."

Some were too realistic.  Some bothered Zoe and she started asking lots of questions.    There was a battle in Germany during WW I that was fought in a forest.  The display took us there.  Zoe looked around and said a forest wasn't a very good place for a war.  The video they showed in this area was pretty intense, so we hurried to the next gallery/

WW II  Gallery.  It was really interactive.  You could pick up a phone receiver and push one of the square buttons and listen to personal stories of those who fought in the war.  Zoe liked this much better.  After she finished listening to one story she handed me the receiver and said, "They hung up."  So cute!

This is the actual flag that was raised at Iwo Jima.  They actually raised a little one first, but it couldn't be seen very well so they raised this bigger one that was photographed and the rest is history.

We entered the Viet Nam gallery through this helicopter.  It was loud and vibrating as we walked through and out the tail.  At our feet was a soldier (mannequinn) huddled over a body bag.  There were sandbags and ammunition cans everywhere.  It was hot and humid even!  Charlie didn't stay very long in this gallery.  I asked him if it brought back memories and he nodded and left.

Zoe is standing in front of a chunk from the Pentagon. (9/11 attack)   To the right of her behind that person kneeling down is a beam from the World Trade Towers.

The museum tried to make it family friendly.  There was a coloring station halfway though (and we stopped for a rest and let Zoe stencil her pictures)  and these uniforms for the kids to try.  This is the first Marine uniform.

Modern Marine.  There were stairs to stand on but Zoe insisted on resting her chin on the top.  It just looks like she is at attention doesn't it?

Great day.