A Winter's Tale

I know I have said it before but I love my job.
The work is great but the time off is great also. I had decided when asked by my mom what I wanted for Christmas, my one and only response, was of course, I wanted a road trip. If I were some day ever to be on the Price is Right, I would definitely pass the showcase containing the game room and hot tub package for the trip to Aruba or Helsinki (not sure if that has ever been offered but the location is irrelevant).

 The air was bone chilling and my toes were hurting even with the car seat heaters on. The further north we drove the more cars we began to see covered with salt. The lines at the car washes were long and we crossed many bridges over frozen lakes and rivers. There was a trace of snow on the ground and the steam from heat exhaust pipes was released through the many rows of houses as families stayed warm inside.

 I would be returning after having visited this city many times before. It is a place I hold sacred with many things to see. On a day where most of the time the rush hour seemed to last all day, it was tranquil for the holiday week.

 As my mom and I made our way closer, the large spire of a modern pyramid shaped building enclosed with glass panels could be seen from the highway. I had always wondered about that building and requested that we visit. If for any reason, just to see the inside of it! I would later learn that there was much more to this place than just the curb appeal.
    
 As a kid growing up in a military family, my little musical mind filled with imagination could hardly make sense of the acronyms, army lingo and the vast complexity of the military as a whole. I simply just got used to a life of secured government quarters, bowling leagues and Pac man at the arcade with my other military friends and picking up and relocating on very short notice at times. As a kid I never could really identify with anyone who had lived in the same place their whole lives. That was my normal. It was all I knew.
    
  We were greeted by friendly staff near the entrance who offered more information than we could ask for. As we walked in, the arena before us filled with 150 years of military history was overwhelming.  

  However, since I had grown up in the army, I realized how little I knew about the marines. I was always under the impression that the Armed forces was the primary branch of military that engaged in ground combat. When we hear the term "Marine," we think "maritime" or "amphibious" It all makes since but I had no idea that the Marines actually played every role in combat and was the original branch of military. Having not known this until now makes me wonder how I would not become a light shade of blonde.

 There was so much to see in the vast enormity of this place. Each wing encircled the perimeter of the building and represented a different wartime period. Along with that, there was a wide spread timeline featuring world events that took place over the past 150 years. It was immense but there were some significant sights that were worthy of mention. I wasn't the greatest student in history class as my brain just isn't wired that way. Please note, as an artist, it is far easier for me to write about a walk through an art gallery or a breathtaking landscape. However I hold high respect to those who served throughout this history and with a father who is a was hero himself everything here in one form or another is of sentiment.
  
 The beautiful atrium showcased actual aircraft displayed over head and at the ground floor. There were portraits of soldiers and quotes engraved alongside the marble walls. What captured my attention the most was a 1965 helicopter. The Sikorski UH-34D was a part of "Operation Starlight" as the need for more helicopters was inevitable. Soldiers, such as my dad would fly these helicopter and tended to battle while their little daughters in diapers were back home.

 There was so much to see as we made our way through to the separate wings which housed many different artifacts, dioramas, and multi media presentations. As we entered the era of World War 1, I learned a thing or two about cannons. The more light weight they were the easier they were to transport and mount onto ships and field carriages. They were called howitzers and had a mounting lug with a smooth bore and only weighed 12 pounds. Something I know now that I did not before.

 

 

  Then there was John Philip Sousa, finally something I know about. From as early on as high school and on up through my teaching years, I knew the marches well from 4th of July ceremonies and playing them myself for band festivals. However, there were still many things I did not know. I learned that in 1798, a marine-formed ensemble was given by congress and named "The Presidents Own" by Thomas Jefferson in 1801. The ensemble rose to fame when Sousa was given direction over the players in 1880. I remember we were all taught that he was known as the "March King."
  A special baton was awarded to him in 1930 for his distinguished success in leadership.






WWII:
Iwo Jima


 Again, I was not exactly a sponge when it came to historical facts as I was a bit of a daydreamer in most of my history classes. I did not live through WW2 and Vietnam hit a little closer to home. However references to Pearl Harbor, Blitzkrieg, and Iwo Jima resonated often. I didn't know all the details, but I knew they were catastrophic.

The Battle of Iwo Jima was intended to claim the islands and use them for the purposes of military staging. 6800 Marines died in the battle. The memorial honors all of the fallen Marines. Amidst all of the 6800 medallions for each soldier, an image of the island and the beach which surrounded can been seen through photography but not the naked eye.

                          

This Lego depiction can be seen on display in the museum's gift shop.

  It was the US Marines who raised the flag in victory at Mount Suribachi. The magnificent flag measuring at 96-by-56 inches itself was on display at the museum but no photography was allowed. 

  As devastating as this war seems based on what we read in our history books and movies we watch, war is much closer when someone you know is out fighting the battles.



Vietnam


One of my most favorite movies of all time is that of Forest Gump. We all remember how he was just a little off in every way but always seemed to end up the hero in one way or another all throughout the entire movie. He was the simple gardener who became a millionaire, scored his one winning play in every football game and broke through his leg braces as he ran from bullies.

  The Vietnam war scene was interwoven with humor when Forest met his friend Bubba as they scrubbed the floor with toothbrushes while talking about the shimpin' boat. He then became a ping pong champ and even the scene when Lieutenant Dan walked into the outhouse made the scene easier to watch. Until the battle.

 After a long day's mission, he got the may-day call from the CB in his copter. It was a voice he would never forget the sound of and a voice that would haunt him forever if he did not do that which  he was to do.  The eerie sound of Helicopters filled the air as they flew overhead and the soldiers were ordered to evacuate. The helicopters were soon followed by the jet fighters. There were bodies everywhere and there was one explosion after. Land mines were every where and bullets were flying.  Risking being court marshaled he pursued until he found the soldier who had been shot down. He brought the man to safety. Not all the details were ever revealed about that day out in the jungle as it would have been a difficult story to tell. Though it was only one soldier and not several like Forest Gump, my dad received the Distinguished Flying Cross for this act of bravery. A man's life was spared and my dad became a hero. Two tours: one in combat the other in administration. My dad had his share of stories of how rattle snakes were thrown in tents while soldiers slept and how he had a gun to his back in his office by a troubled soldier all while his little girl back at home watched Mr. Rogers. He also remembered the jungle and the quiet times in what he still referred to as a beautiful place.

Though the displays at the museum from this war were true to life and very impressive, the stories alone were enough.

That's all I have to say about that.


We Were Hungry.


  The very first recruitment for the US Marines took place in a quaint little tavern located in Philadelphia. The museum had their own version of this tavern in a cozy secluded place on the upper level. Chicken and dumplings served me well on a cold winters day after a pleasant afternoon.

This experienced marked me and will forever be a great memory. I learned more than I ever thought I would about the US Marines and was introduced to a lot of history I was unaware of. It was a great time with family and a time to remember.

The sun was setting and the air was colder. The drive the next day would be long and work would start back again for me. Life moves swiftly and even more so the older I get. However some things seem more and more meaningful all the time. You have to keep your eyes open as to not miss anything.





Place visited: National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico, VA.
Lunch: The Tun Tavern
Date visited: Jan. 2nd, 2018

Distinguished Flying Cross

                 I also visited my war hero who is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery
                                                                    in Arlington VA.