EXIT Now! That's an Order, Grunt.

EXIT 148 I-95n To:  Marine Base Quantico


Ok Road Trippers, Attention!  You are passing Marine Base Quantico.  As you drive north look 2 clicks to the east. You can see the roof of the  United States Marine Corps Museum.  Does it remind you of something?  Pointed and slightly  tilted?  Lifting skyward? ​

The roof purposefully evokes  the famous Statue of Marines raising the American Flag in Iwo Jima.   As the Marine song says, The United States Marines fight our country’s battles on the lands and on the seas, and it also says — kinda a dig at the other military branches — If the Army and the Navy Ever look on Heaven’s scenes, They will find the streets are guarded By United States Marines!


Harsh right?  But not really.  A lot of that tough love is embodied by the Marines. Doing Mean tasks for just causes. The Marines are often the first Americans deployed to provide security and aid to catastrophes all around the globe.  In fact Marines are tasked with protecting our embassies.  So yes, the Army and Navy are generally greeted by Marines when they land anywhere — including Heaven.


There is a theater dedicated to Medal of Honor winners as well as an exhibit dedicated  to War Dogs. One such pooch saved his platoon and is standing proud on his 2 legs. He lost his other legs in the battle.  Best of all, you will meet real Marines past and present who love to share their stories. ​

As Hans Von Spakovsky wrote in the “NATIONAL REVIEW” Magazine , this Museum provides an informed and frankly emotional tour through the storied history of the Marines. You can’t help but get a taste of the toughness, professionalism, and go-for-broke style of the Marines as soon as you walk in the door.  There, carved on the wall of the high atrium that is the center of the museum, are the words of a legend — Sergeant Major “Dan” Daily: “Come on you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”


Daily yelled those famous words as they were charging the Germans during the Battle of Belleau Wood during World War One.  In that battle, the Marines defeated a much larger German force while losing more men than had been killed and wounded in all of the prior battles of the Marines combined since their founding over 240 years ago.


Throughout this museum there are artifacts that tell the story of the Marines. ​

Most visitors to Washington spend their time visiting the Smithsonian Museums not realizing that another terrific museum is just a short drive away.


Why not get off the Next Exit and check it out.  In fact, do it — and  do it NOW.


That’s an Order, Grunt!




#Quantico #Marines #MarinesMuseum #NationalReviewMagazine #DanDaily #IwoJima #USArmy #USAA #USNavy #UnitedStatesMarines ​